THE government plans to construct a new council office building and a modern market in Rufiji District, Coast Region with a total investment of 24bn/-, a senior official has announced.

Mohammed Mchengerwa, the Minister of State in the President’s Office-Regional Administration and Local Government (PO-RALG), unveiled this on Wednesday while addressing residents at Ujamaa grounds in Rufiji.

Mchengerwa, who is also the Rufiji MP, highlighted that Rufiji has recently been upgraded to a township council, paving the way for major development projects.

He noted that the construction of the council building will cost 10bn/-, while the modern market will require 14bn/-. Additionally, other projects, including a new bus terminal, are also in the pipeline.

“Now that Rufiji has been upgraded, we are set to receive major projects. President Samia has approved the construction of a three-story council building with 50 offices, which will be built in Ikwiriri at a cost of 10bn/-,” he said.

The modern market will be located in Umwe Kati, featuring 122 shops, 102 stalls, parking for 48 small vehicles, over 50 food vendor booths, fish and meat butcheries, a loading zone for 30 trucks, and six warehouses for storage. Construction for both the market and the council building is set to begin in November.

Mchengerwa also outlined plans for a modern bus terminal that will accommodate 76 large buses, 74 small buses, 200 motorcycles and 20 taxis.

The terminal will include 200 shop spaces, a hotel with 25 rooms, an entertainment club, and a supermarket. Restaurants, commercial banks, and garages will also be part of the development, with construction commencing after the completion of a feasibility study, as designs are already finalized.

Other notable projects include the construction of a new three-story health centre in Umwe Ward, estimated to cost over 2bn/-, along with renovations of existing health facilities.

Additionally, investors have been secured to build a sugar factory in Nyamwage Ward, with a projected investment of 3trn/-.

Mchengerwa further said that plans are also in place for a new port in Muhoro Ward, for which residents have been compensated, with 2.9bn/- already disbursed. 

The port will be designed for banana exports, with a capacity to handle 40 containers per day, and will also include the construction of 400 houses.