Construction of the Mbamba-Bay Port project in Tanzania is set to begin. Mr Plasduce Mbossa, the Director General for Tanzania Ports Authority (TPA),
Construction of the Mbamba-Bay Port project in Tanzania is set to begin. Mr Plasduce Mbossa, the Director General for Tanzania Ports Authority (TPA), made the announcement following concerns raised by Tanzania’s Ambassador to Malawi, Mr Humphrey Polepole, on the to open Mtwara Corridor to promote economic growth in Mtwara and Ruvuma Regions.
According to the Ambassador, Mtwara Port will not be fully utilised if Mbamba-Bay is not constructed to facilitate the movement of goods and people from the deepest water port to other places especially in Malawi, Mozambique and Zambia.
Mtwara Development Project
The Mtwara Development Project is a major infrastructure development project involving southern Tanzania, northern Mozambique, eastern Malawi and Eastern Zambia. The goal of this project is to provide road, rail and waterway access from the surrounding region to the Port of Mtwara.
The region and the corridor has been neglected by the respective governments for over 40 years and the recent discovery of oil, gas and various minerals has kick started the development of the project. A road and rail link is to be built from the port of Mtwara to Mbamba Bay on Lake Nyasa to link Malawi to the corridor and further road links into Mozambique will facilitate access to northern Mozambique.
“TPA is aware of the importance of Mbamba Bay Port and for that matter we are committed to implement the plan towards opening up the Mtwara Corridor and Mtwara Port,” said Mr Plasduce Mbossa.
The government in Mtwara Region has also developed a grand strategic plan to attract foreign and local business opportunities through Mtwara Port, gas being among other resources to promote economic growth in the region.