On 21st September 2024, the Tanzania National Roads Agency (TANROADS) signed two agreements with China Henan International Corporation (CHICO) for the construction of the Iringa-Msembe tarmac road, in the Iringa Region.
Approximately 9.2 kilometers of the road fall within the Iringa Municipality, with the remaining 94.8 kilometers in the Iringa District.
The road links Iringa with the Ruaha National Park passing through key locations like Kalenga, Nzihi, Kidamali, Nyamahana, Idodi, Mapogoro, Tungamalenga, and the Msembe airstrip that serves the Park.
The main goal of this project is to improve the quality and capacity of road transport and enhance tourism development in the southern circuit, particularly in the Ruaha National Park and other nearby historical sites.
It also aims to spur economic growth by untapping the trade potential of agriculture, forestry, tourism, and fisheries for communities living along the road.
It will also reduce travel time for passengers and goods to and from Iringa town through key centers in the region.
The 104-kilometer road, currently in poor condition and mostly made up of engineered gravel, will be upgraded to double-bituminous surface treatment (DBST) with a 6.5-meter-wide carriageway and 1.5-meter-wide shoulders on both sides.
The embankment will consist of improved sub-grade and pavement layers and proper drainage structures to ensure usability throughout the year.
The upgrade, valued at USD 75.85 billion and mostly funded by the World Bank (WB), is part of the Tanzania Transport Integration Project (TanTIP).
This government initiative aims to improve Tanzania’s transportation network and includes seven sub-projects to upgrade four roads and three airports among which the Iringa-Msembe road.
Speaking at the signing of the agreements, the Minister of Natural Resources and Tourism, Hon. Dr. Pindi Chana highlighted; “The construction of this road will, among other things, help increase the number of tourists, especially domestic tourism, and boost national income.”
She also emphasized that the project would provide opportunities for enhanced social services and drive economic growth in the Iringa Region.
She encouraged both foreign and domestic investors to capitalize on the available opportunities in lodges, bandas, and camps in the Ruaha National Park.
Speaking to the public, the Minister of Works, Hon. Innocent Bashungwa, instructed the Chief Executive of TANROADS to ensure that the contractor, CHICO Company, executes the road construction with high standards and completes the project on time, as per the contract.
“Honorable President Dr. Samia Suluhu Hassan understands that once this road is built, it will open up economic and tourism opportunities for the people of Iringa, and she has allocated a special fund of TZS 142.56 billion to ensure that the road starts construction and is completed with a smooth flow of funds,” added Hon. Bashungwa.
Agriculture and Tourism in Iringa
According to the Iringa Region Investment Guide, from 2014/15 to 2018/19, the region produced an average of 1,277,864 metric tons of food crops, with maize and beans primarily grown in the Mufindi District Council (71.1%) and the Iringa District Council (8.7%).
The main cash crops grown include tea, tobacco, pyrethrum, sunflower, groundnuts, onion, tomatoes, coffee, cashews, cotton, and avocados.
The Iringa Region has strong potential for high-value horticulture crops like avocados, grapes, mangoes, pineapples, apples, flowers, carrots, peas, onions, and tomatoes.
Over 9,883 hectares in the Mufindi, Iringa, and Kilolo District Councils are suitable for fruit and vegetable farming.
Large-scale farming investments are encouraged, with opportunities to organize small-scale out-growers for processing and value addition.
The Iringa Region tourism offer includes the Ruaha National Park, which became the second-largest in Africa and the largest in East Africa in 2008 after merging with Usangu Game Reserve covering over 20,000 km².
The park’s wildlife includes elephants, zebra, lion, giraffes, hunting dogs, ostrich, greater and lesser kudu, grants gazelles, striped hyenas, sable and roan antelopes, crocodiles, and hippos in the Ruaha River. More than 540 species of bird have been recorded in the park.
Another major tourist attraction is the Udzungwa National Park which is part of the Eastern Arc Mountains and is known for its great biodiversity and high concentration of endemic species, making it one of the world’s key biodiversity hotspots.
The park features a variety of landscapes, including rolling hills, mountains, valleys, and scenic waterfalls.
