Mbeya City Council is calling on local investors to take advantage of two major projects to be implemented through public-private partnerships (PPPs). The projects, a main bus terminal at Uyole and a modern abattoir, are estimated to cost Sh20 billion and Sh10 billion, respectively. The council is at the initial stages of introducing the projects to stakeholders and is collecting views from investors and other stakeholders before finalizing reports and determining the projects' implementation costs.
The Head of the Industry, Trade and Investment Department at Mbeya City Council, Mr Festo Nashon, said the council is encouraged by the recommendations received during a recent meeting with investors and the Public-Private Partnership Centre (PPPC). He expressed confidence that cooperation between the public and private sectors would help achieve the projects' objectives. Local investors are expected to benefit immensely from the projects, as they understand the local environment and its realities.
Mr Nashon said the consultant is expected to complete the feasibility report next month, paving the way for the projects to be advertised before the end of the current financial year. Once the processes are completed, construction is expected to commence in the next financial year. The council is working closely with stakeholders, including financial institutions, to ensure that construction can begin only after completing all the required processes, including procurement, in accordance with the PPP laws and regulations amended in 2020.
The Head of Project Preparation and Development at the PPPC, Mr Innocent Mauki, said the centre's responsibility is to supervise the projects and ensure they are completed and delivered benefits to citizens. The projects are funded by the World Bank, and the centre is collecting stakeholders' views to improve the project documents and ensure they respond to the needs of Mbeya residents.
An economist from the Prime Minister's Office Regional Administration and Local Government (PMO-RALG), Mr Fulgence Matemele, said the office is responsible for overseeing the initial feasibility studies and providing technical advice. The office will continue working with Mbeya City Council and the private sector to ensure these projects are viable and contribute to achieving the objectives of the National Development Vision 2050.
One of the investors in the region, Mr Shitinda Venance, said an enabling business environment and public participation in development projects encouraged investment. He commended the government for initiating these projects, which will increase money circulation and create economic opportunities for young people and the wider community. The completed terminal, in particular, is expected to create numerous opportunities.
The projects are expected to have a significant impact on the local economy, and the council is working to ensure that they are implemented efficiently. With the support of the PPPC and the PMO-RALG, the council is confident that the projects will be completed on time and will deliver benefits to the residents of Mbeya.
Key points
- Local investors are being urged to seize opportunities in two major public-private partnership projects in Mbeya, Tanzania.
- The projects, a main bus terminal and a modern abattoir, are estimated to cost Sh20 billion and Sh10 billion, respectively.
- The projects are expected to create economic opportunities for young people and the wider community, and will be implemented in the next financial year.
