THE Rural and Urban Roads Agency (TARURA) in Coast region is in the process of terminating the contracts of two contractors, HariCom International Ltd and Trinity Manufacturing Services, for failing to implement road infrastructure projects on time.
Deputy Permanent Secretary OR-TAMISEMI, who handles Infrastructure, Engineer Rogatus Mativila said this week while on a working visit to inspect the implementation of roads being carried out in Rufiji, Coast region.
He said the termination of contracts for the contractors is due to winning the tender and being given advance payments but failing to implement their contracts.
“HariCom International Ltd was awarded the tender for the construction of the 1 km long Polisi-Kirungi road and was given an initial payment of 160 million shillings but so far they have not constructed the road, they have left their equipment at the project site, the project costs are 1.7 billion shillings”, he said
The TRINITY company was awarded an initial payment of 460 million shillings in August, 2024 and the project was supposed to be completed in November, 2025 but so far nothing is happening in the project.
He said Tanzania wants local contractors to participate in contracting issues but some local contractors have been dishonest and have taken money and failed to implement projects on time and fulfill contracts as announced in the tenders.
He said no one has not heard or seen how the 2023 and 2024 rains have destroyed the living environment of the people of Rufiji, due to the destruction of the homes of the people of Rufiji by being surrounded by water, including the destruction of farms. The solution to help the people of Rufiji is to improve infrastructure, which will help when it rains, so that challenges do not arise again for the community.
“It is sad that companies with big names take tenders and ‘advance’ but have failed to carry out their duties”, he said
Engineer Mativila said steps will be taken against those companies that failed to work on time, including holding their items that they had prioritized in the project areas.
He said that due to the failure to implement the projects, he has requested that the contractors not be given any work through RALGM.
The Coastal Regional Manager of TARURA, Engineer Ibrahim Kibasa said efforts have been made to contact the contractors by phone but they have not been receiving his calls.
He said that HariCom Company’s project to construct the Kaunda – Kikopo road with a length of 0.5 km was supposed to start from April 10, 2024, but until now nothing is happening.
He said that Trinity from August, 2024 until now despite taking advance money, he has not built the road.
During the visit, some of its projects are still being implemented and the managers have promised to ensure that they complete them on time.
He also asked the residents of Rufiji to ensure that they maintain all the water channels built for water transmission, to be used for that purpose and not to throw waste in the channels.
He also asked the Rufiji council to educate people on environmental hygiene.
