Arusha-Holili Road Improvement Project(JICA Loan Project)
2022/2/4
Existing Kikafu Bridge
Artist's impression of the Proposed New Kikafu Bridge
On the 4th of February, in Dar es Salaam of the United Republic of Tanzania, the Exchange of Notes (E/N) for the ODA loan project namely, “Arusha-Holili Road Improvement Project”, were signed by H.E. Mr. GOTO Shinichi, Ambassador of Japan in the United Republic of Tanzania and the East African Community (EAC) and Mr. Emmanuel Mpawe TUTUBA, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Finance and Planning of the United Republic of Tanzania. In this project, the Government of Japan will extend a concessional loan of up to 24.31 billion Yen (approximately 489 billion TZS).
- In this loan project, the several sections of Arusha-Holili road will be improved and the New Kikafu Bridge will be constructed. The current Kikafu bridge has been scaring motorists and passengers alike due to its dark legend of claiming many lives from its annual accidents toll. In fact, in 1985, 6 JICA volunteers were killed in a motor vehicle accident at Kikafu Bridge on the Arusha-Moshi road. Through this project, the current bridge will be reconstructed and relocated to a safer position.
- The Project is expected to increase capacity of the road in terms of volume and loading, improve traffic safety and lower vehicle operating costs by widening the road and constructing new bridges. Furthermore, the project is expected to tremendously improve the livelihood of the community between Arusha and Moshi, reduce the travelling time between the two major towns and improve accessibility of Kilimanjaro International Airport from both Moshi town and Arusha city.
- Furthermore, the road will facilitate trading between Tanzania and Kenya since it will go up to the Holili/Taveta border of Tanzania and Kenya, this will stimulate the economy of the northern part of Tanzania. The project will widen roads of Tengeru-Usa River section in Arusha City and Moshi town section, Kilimanjaro region into a dual carriageway.
- In addition, this project falls under the TICAD7 agenda of “Quality Infrastructure to Promote Connectivity” and it is also linked to Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP*) vision by connecting Tanzania and Kenya via the Holili/Taveta border. Indeed, the reconstruction and relocation from the current "dangerous bridge" that caused many accidents to a better, safer and more beautiful bridge will be another symbol of long-term friendship between Japan and Tanzania.
The memorial monument near Kikafu Bridge
The memorial monument has been built at the scene near the Kikafu Bridge to commemorate the tragedy of the Japanese volunteers and others who died from the accident in this Arusha-Moshi road at the Kikafu Bridge. Below the memorial monument, the names of all those who died from this accident have been written for the record.
About FOIP
*The Vision for “Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP)”
Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP) is an umbrella term that encompasses Indo-Pacific-specific strategies of countries with similar interests in the region. The concept has been developed through Japanese and American cooperation.
In order for the partnership between Japan and Africa to prosper, regional integration to establish a Customs Union for the free movement of goods, people, and capital is crucial. And this goes hand-in-hand with Japan’s effort for a “Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP)”. FOIP vision acknowledges that a key for stability and prosperity of the international community is dynamism that is created by combining “Two Continents” - Asia that is rapidly growing and Africa that possess huge potential of growth; and the “Two Oceans”- Free and open Pacific Ocean and Indian Ocean.
In Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP) efforts, Japan aims to promote peace, stability and prosperity across the region to make the Indo-Pacific free and open as “international public goods”, through ensuring rules-based international order including the rule of law, freedom of navigation and over flight, peaceful settlement of disputes, and promotion of free trade. Furthermore, FOIP aims to improve connectivity between Asia, the Middle East and Africa through free and open Indo-Pacific, and promote stability and prosperity of the region as a whole.
In efforts to achieve this vision, Japan promises to provide nation-building support in the area of development as well as politics and governance, in a way that respects the ownership of African countries, and not by forcing on or intervening in them, which is the philosophy TICAD of “Ownership and International Partnership”.
Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP) is an umbrella term that encompasses Indo-Pacific-specific strategies of countries with similar interests in the region. The concept has been developed through Japanese and American cooperation.
In order for the partnership between Japan and Africa to prosper, regional integration to establish a Customs Union for the free movement of goods, people, and capital is crucial. And this goes hand-in-hand with Japan’s effort for a “Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP)”. FOIP vision acknowledges that a key for stability and prosperity of the international community is dynamism that is created by combining “Two Continents” - Asia that is rapidly growing and Africa that possess huge potential of growth; and the “Two Oceans”- Free and open Pacific Ocean and Indian Ocean.
In Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP) efforts, Japan aims to promote peace, stability and prosperity across the region to make the Indo-Pacific free and open as “international public goods”, through ensuring rules-based international order including the rule of law, freedom of navigation and over flight, peaceful settlement of disputes, and promotion of free trade. Furthermore, FOIP aims to improve connectivity between Asia, the Middle East and Africa through free and open Indo-Pacific, and promote stability and prosperity of the region as a whole.
In efforts to achieve this vision, Japan promises to provide nation-building support in the area of development as well as politics and governance, in a way that respects the ownership of African countries, and not by forcing on or intervening in them, which is the philosophy TICAD of “Ownership and International Partnership”.