Tanzania Warns Contractors Over Project Delays

Tanzania’s Minister for Works, Abdallah Ulega, has issued a strong warning to contractors failing to meet deadlines on government construction projects, stressing that no extensions will be granted for negligence.

During his official visit to Lindi Region, a coastal area in southern Tanzania, the minister stated that the government would strictly enforce timelines to ensure rapid progress on infrastructure damaged by recent extreme weather events.

“If a contractor has been entrusted with a public project and cannot complete it due to carelessness, they should not expect even a single day of extra time,” said Ulega. “Our people cannot continue to suffer because of poor performance.”

The tour follows heavy El Niño rains and the impact of Cyclone Hidaya, which battered the southern corridor earlier this year, washing away roads, bridges, and key transport links. In response, the government mobilized resources to rebuild critical routes, especially in rural and underserved communities.

The directive is in line with guidance from the ruling party, Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM), which tasked ministries with intensifying oversight and improving service delivery after the natural disasters disrupted life and economic activity across several regions.

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More than TSh 9 billion (approximately $3.5 million) has been allocated for repairs on the Nangurukuru–Liwale road, which includes challenging sections in Njinjo and Ngea, areas known for seasonal inaccessibility.

Ulega also extended greetings from President Samia Suluhu Hassan, affirming her administration’s dedication to transforming regional infrastructure. He said 13 major development projects are ongoing in the Lindi Region, many supported by the World Bank.

Key routes undergoing restoration include:

“These roads are not just transport links; they’re economic arteries,” Ulega explained. “They connect farmers to markets, students to schools, and the sick to hospitals. We must complete them on time and to the right standards.”

He called on contractors to scale up their operations, hire more workers, and implement longer shifts to meet project deadlines, particularly ahead of the short rainy season expected later this year.

“The time of excuses is over,” the minister declared. “This government stands for accountability, and we will not compromise on the wellbeing of Tanzanians.”