Tanzanians are happy again, to have something that will remind them of their beloved fallen president, John Pombe Magufuli. And as you read this, after years of anticipation and delays, the massive Magufuli Bridge sitting on Lake Victoria, spanning the gulf of Mwanza in Tanzania, is complete.
This isn’t just another infrastructure project, but a game changer in the infrastructure world of Tanzania. Imagine, slashing your travel time from a two-hour crawl to a breezy four-minute zip, that’s what this 3.2 kilometre marvel promises. And Tanzania president is the one that is set to open the bridge to officially start receiving traffic.
It is dubbed the JP Magufuli Bridge (formerly Kigongo-Busisi Bridge), it is named after the late President John Pombe Joseph Magufuli, a leader known for his ambitious infrastructure push. The bridge, is entirely funded and 100% by Tanzania according to major news outlets in the East African country.
This “Magufuli tradition” is a point of pride, showcasing the nation’s growing economic clout. But this bridge isn’t just about national pride, but it’s about regional connectivity too. This “crucial link” connects Tanzania to its neighbours including Rwanda, Burundi, and Uganda.
As said earlier, the Magufuli bridge is set to be inaugurated by President Samia Suluhu Hassan later this year. While the official narrative focuses on progress and prosperity, some might whisper about the project’s hefty price tag and the delays caused by the pandemic.
READ MORE: Lake Victoria Claims Five Lives in Tragic Boat Accident – Were Safety Measures Lacking?
Will this grand project truly usher in an era of economic prosperity, or will it cast a long shadow of debt? Only time will tell. One thing is certain though, the Magufuli Bridge is a symbol of Tanzania’s ambition and a stamp to its engineering power.
This is not just an achievement of Tanzania alone, but a regional achievement and it sends a strong signal that infrastructure development is needed in Africa and it can be attained without external assistance in loans.
