The Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) Manifesto for the 2025 General Election outlines a transformative infrastructure agenda for 2025–2030, aimed at enhancing connectivity and driving economic activity across Tanzania’s urban and rural landscapes. Key projects include the 1,108-km Tanga–Arusha–Musoma railway, 218-km Igawa–Uyole–Songwe–Tunduma road, and the new Bagamoyo port, alongside Zanzibar-specific initiatives like the 48-km Tunguu–Makunduchi road and Mangapwani port (Pages 49–50, 61, 68). Urban areas benefit from congestion-reducing flyovers in Dar es Salaam and Bus Rapid Transit expansions, while rural regions gain from paved roads and bridges, such as the 133.9-km Geita–Bukoli–Kahama road, ensuring year-round market access (Page 49). By investing in eight new aircraft for Air Tanzania and two new airports in Zanzibar (Page 51, 67), the manifesto fosters trade, tourism, and inclusive growth, aligning with the National Development Vision 2050’s goals of connectivity and prosperity.
Key Infrastructure Projects (2025–2030)
The manifesto details several major infrastructure projects across roads, railways, ports, maritime transport, and aviation, with specific attention to both mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar. These projects are designed to improve connectivity, reduce transportation costs, and stimulate economic activity.
1. Roads and Bridges
Regional and District Road Connectivity: The manifesto commits to connecting regional and district headquarters with paved roads to ensure all-weather accessibility. Specific projects include:
Construction of major regional roads, such as Igawa–Uyole–Songwe–Tunduma (218 km), Kibaoni–Majimoto–Inyonga (162 km), Tarime–Mugumu (87 km), Geita–Bukoli–Kahama (Busoka, 133.9 km), and Mabokweni–Maramba–Bombo Mtoni–Umba–Same (278 km).
Urban Flyovers in Dar es Salaam: To reduce urban congestion, the manifesto plans to construct flyovers at key junctions, including Morocco, Mwenge, Magomeni, and Tabata in Dar es Salaam.
Bridge Construction: Ongoing bridge projects to be completed include Malagarasi Chini (Kigoma), Mkenda (Ruvuma), Godegode (Dodoma), Mzinga (Dar es Salaam), Simiyu (Mwanza), Nzali (Dodoma), Ugalla (Kigoma), Sanza (Singida), Mitomoni (Ruvuma), Malagarasi Juu (Kigoma), Mkundi (Morogoro), Pangani (Tanga), Kalebe (Kagera), and Mto Msimbazi at Jangwani (Dar es Salaam).
Zanzibar Road Projects: Specific projects include Tunguu–Makunduchi (48 km), Fumba–Kisauni (12 km), Mkoani–Chake (43.5 km), and Nungwi Tourism Road (12 km), alongside additional feeder roads and urban roads to improve connectivity.
2. Railways
Standard Gauge Railway (SGR): The manifesto prioritizes the expansion of the SGR network to enhance freight and passenger transport:
Urban Metro Systems: Plans to develop modern metro rail systems in Dar es Salaam and Dodoma to reduce urban congestion and improve mobility.
Tanga–Arusha–Musoma Railway: A new 1,108-km railway connecting Tanga Port to Arusha and Musoma, facilitating trade and regional integration.
3. Ports
New Port Development: Construction of a new port at Bagamoyo to boost trade capacity.
Port Upgrades: Improvements to existing ports in Dar es Salaam, Mtwara, Tanga, Kigoma, Kalema, Musoma, and dry ports at Kurasini (Dar es Salaam), Kwala (Pwani), and Ihumwa (Dodoma).
Zanzibar Port Development: Continued construction of an integrated port at Mangapwani to enhance maritime trade and tourism.
4. Maritime Transport
Ferry and Cargo Ships: Rehabilitation of existing ships and construction of new cargo and passenger vessels for Lakes Tanganyika, Victoria, Nyasa, and the Indian Ocean.
Zanzibar Maritime Initiatives: Introduction of sea taxi services to improve transport for residents and tourists, alongside sustainable marine spatial planning and enhanced maritime security.
5. Aviation
Air Tanzania Expansion: Purchase of eight new aircraft to strengthen Air Tanzania’s fleet, increasing connectivity.
Zanzibar Airport Development: Expansion of Pemba Airport, including extending the runway and building a new passenger terminal, construction of Nungwi Airport, and development of Paje Airport for small passenger planes. The manifesto also targets an increase in annual flight frequency, though specific figures are not provided.
6. Bus Rapid Transit (BRT)
Dar es Salaam BRT Expansion: Continuation of BRT Phases IV–VI, covering routes such as Ali Hassan Mwinyi–Morocco–Mwenge–Tegeta, Mandela from Ubungo to the port, Mandela/Tabata–Tabata Segerea, and Tabata–Kigogo, to improve urban public transport.
Addressing Urban and Rural Needs
Urban Areas
Reducing Congestion: Flyovers in Dar es Salaam and metro rail systems in Dar es Salaam and Dodoma address urban traffic congestion, improving mobility for residents and businesses. The BRT expansion further enhances efficient public transport, reducing travel time and costs.
Economic Hubs: Upgrading ports like Dar es Salaam and Tanga and building urban railways strengthen trade and logistics hubs, fostering economic activity in cities. The Mangapwani port in Zanzibar supports urban tourism and trade.
Urban Accessibility: Zanzibar’s urban road projects (e.g., Nungwi Tourism Road, 12 km) and sea taxi services cater to urban residents and tourists, boosting local economies.
Rural Areas
Improved Connectivity: Paved roads connecting regional and district headquarters (Page 48) and rural road upgrades ensure year-round access, linking rural farmers to markets and services. For example, the Geita–Bukoli–Kahama road (133.9 km) enhances rural trade routes.
Agricultural Support: Bridge projects like Malagarasi Chini and Simiyu improve access to agricultural areas, reducing transport costs for farmers. The SGR network, such as Tabora–Kigoma (506 km), connects rural regions to urban markets and ports.
Zanzibar Rural Access: Feeder roads and rural roads in Zanzibar improve access to remote areas, supporting small-scale farmers and businesses in regions like Pemba and Unguja.
Enhancing Connectivity and Economic Activity
Connectivity: The SGR projects (e.g., 1,108 km Tanga–Arusha–Musoma) and road networks (e.g., 218 km Igawa–Tunduma) create seamless regional and cross-border connectivity, facilitating trade with neighboring countries. Ports and airports (e.g., Bagamoyo port, Pemba Airport expansion) enhance global trade links.
Economic Activity: Infrastructure investments reduce transportation costs, improve market access, and attract private sector investment. For instance, the Bagamoyo port and SGR projects are expected to boost export capacity, while rural road upgrades enable farmers to sell produce efficiently. In Zanzibar, the Mangapwani port and sea taxis support tourism, a key economic driver.
Inclusivity: By prioritizing rural road upgrades and feeder roads, the manifesto ensures that remote communities benefit from economic opportunities, aligning with the inclusive growth goals of NDV 2050. Urban projects like BRT and flyovers improve access to jobs and services for city residents.
Alignment with National Development Vision 2050
The NDV 2050 emphasizes modern infrastructure to drive economic growth, connectivity, and equitable development. The manifesto’s infrastructure projects align as follows:
Economic Growth: Large-scale projects like the SGR and new ports support NDV 2050’s goal of a diversified, competitive economy by enhancing trade and logistics.
Equitable Development: Rural road and bridge projects ensure that economic benefits reach underserved areas, promoting inclusivity.
Sustainability: Investments in sustainable maritime planning and modern rail systems reduce environmental impact and align with NDV 2050’s focus on sustainable development.
Challenges and Considerations
Funding Clarity: The manifesto does not specify funding sources for major projects like the 1,108-km Tanga–Arusha–Musoma railway or Bagamoyo port, which may pose implementation challenges.
Urban-Rural Balance: While rural connectivity is addressed, the manifesto’s urban focus (e.g., Dar es Salaam flyovers, BRT) is more detailed, potentially risking uneven development if rural projects lag.
Maintenance: Long-term maintenance plans for infrastructure like bridges and railways are not detailed, which could affect sustainability.
Conclusion
The CCM Manifesto for 2025–2030 outlines ambitious infrastructure projects, including 1,108 km of new railways, 218 km of regional roads, urban flyovers, and new ports like Bagamoyo, to enhance connectivity and economic activity. Urban areas benefit from congestion-reducing projects like BRT and metro systems, while rural areas gain from paved roads and bridges, ensuring market access for farmers and businesses. These initiatives align with NDV 2050’s vision of a connected, prosperous, and equitable Tanzania, though clear funding and maintenance plans are needed to ensure success. By addressing both urban mobility and rural accessibility, the manifesto fosters inclusive economic growth across Tanzania.
Key figures related to infrastructure development from the Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) Manifesto for the 2025 General Election, covering the period 2025–2030. These figures highlight specific infrastructure projects and their scope, aimed at enhancing connectivity and economic activity in both urban and rural areas of Tanzania, as outlined in the manifesto. The table focuses on quantifiable data from the document to provide a clear overview of the manifesto’s infrastructure commitments.
Scope: The table focuses on quantifiable infrastructure metrics from the manifesto, including road lengths, railway lengths, number of aircraft, and port developments. Non-quantified commitments, such as rural road upgrades or urban metro systems, are excluded due to lack of specific figures.
Urban and Rural Coverage: Projects like the Tanga–Arusha–Musoma railway (1,108 km) and regional roads (e.g., 218 km Igawa–Tunduma) enhance rural connectivity, while urban-focused initiatives like Dar es Salaam flyovers and BRT expansion address city needs.
Zanzibar-Specific Projects: The table includes Zanzibar-specific figures (e.g., 48 km Tunguu–Makunduchi road, Mangapwani port) to highlight the manifesto’s focus on regional development.
Alignment with Economic Goals: These projects support economic activity by improving trade routes (e.g., Bagamoyo port), market access (e.g., rural roads), and tourism (e.g., Zanzibar’s Nungwi Tourism Road), aligning with the National Development Vision 2050’s connectivity and prosperity objectives.
