“The
two projects have consumed nearly 800bn/- or about 345 million US
dollars. This is unrealistic and must be investigated,” the president
said in Dar es Salaam when officiating at the Engineers Registration
Board’s (ERB) 14th Annual Engineers Day.
While
expansion and renovation of runway for Mwanza Airport cost 105bn/-, the
extension of JNIA Terminal Three, which include roofing of the terminal
structure, installation of cooling systems (air duct), passenger
boarding bridge, sewage systems, fire detection systems, electricity
infrastructure (cabling) as well as plastering and flooring guzzled
650bn/- in taxpayers money.
“The
government allocated 100bn/- for renovation of regional airports during
the 2016/17 financial year. Out of this amount, we spent about 11bn/-
to upgrade the Dodoma Airport to accommodate turboprop- powered
narrow-body commercial passenger planes, the Bombardier Q400,” President
Magufuli said. “Such amount, if well spent, can help to expand and
renovate at least seven regional airports.”
The
president was surprised with the amount spent in Mwanza and Dar es
Salaam-based JNIA projects, faulting local engineers for not being
realistic and honest.
“Drawing
and estimates are conducted by engineers; unfortunately engineers have
been exaggerating estimates,” he said, insisting that the projects must
be investigated.
The
president, who is a chemical engineer, said should engineers “decide
today, we can reach our targets of becoming a middle income country.”
Ideally, he said engineers were the architect of industrial developments
in any country. He questioned the fraternity’s preparations to spur
industrial-powered economy to attain the middle income status by 2025.
“We
need new ships. What are the preparations for mechanical engineers to
take over this opportunity?” he queried, “We have allocated 1 trillion/-
for the construction of Standard Gauge line; all these are
opportunities.
”
He said the government recently purchased two turboprop-powered
commercial passenger aircrafts - Bombardier Q400 from Canada, noting the
planes are scheduled to land in the country by mid this month.
“These
also need engineers to maintain them ... are you well prepared to take
on this responsibilities,” he asked, receiving loud applause from a
parked conference hall in the city.
There
were about 2,500 registered engineers at the annual event themed
“Transforming Tanzania towards Becoming a Middle Income Country through
Industrialisation: The role of Engineers.”
The
president challenged the engineers to take over the opportunities
arising from various sectors in the country, insisting that his
administration was open for assisting local engineers.
President
Magufuli announced that Tanzania has discovered massive Helium gas
alongside natural gas, minerals; gold, tanzanite, diamonds and gypsum.
“We are soon constructing Hoima-Tanga crude oil pipeline.
How are Tanzanian engineers prepared for this major project?
Don’t
you know how to calculate diameter and radius,” he said, urging the
Engineers Registration Board (ERB) to establish a private engineering
company, which can be hired by the state to undertake various
construction works.
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