BY early next year, all transportation services on Lake Victoria will resume as they were before, the government has stated.

Said Mtanda, Mwanza regional commissioner, made this affirmation during an interview here yesterday, urging Lake Zone residents to be patient during this period of port infrastructure improvement.

As they will benefit more in terms of transport and business once the work is complete, investing in major port projects along Lake Victoria is designed to position Mwanza as an economic gateway for the Lake Zone regions and for neighbouring countries.

Current investments encompass refurbishing port facilities at Mwanza North, Kemondo and Bukoba, build the new MV Mwanza ship, which is said to be at 96 percent completion, costing and will cost 123bn/-.

With these improvements, Mwanza is expected to become the main economic gateway in the lake basin area, he said, pointing at easier trading with lakeside towns and cities in Kenya and Uganda with better port facilities and good vessels plying port routes.

The government has invested 18.6bn/- for Mwanza North port now at 40 percent completion level, he said, commending the Tanzania Ports Authority (TPA) for effectively managing ongoing projects.

TPA has also secured additional funding to ensure timely completion of the projects, he said, while Erasto Lugenge, the Lake Victoria ports manager said that the zone includes several major ports listed as Mwanza North, Mwanza South, Bukoba, Nansio, Kemondo and Musoma.

Smaller ports include Mwigobelo, Kyamkwikwi, Magarini, Lushamba and Mtama, in Kagera, Mwanza, Geita, Simiyu and Shinyanga regions, he said, pointing at major port projects at Mwanza North, Kemondo, and Bukoba.

The projects are government-funded at a cost of 60bn/- and will be completed by late next year, he said, noting that the construction includes passenger terminals, fences, roads, a cargo terminal and berths.

This will provide sufficient space for the bigger ships like MV Mwanza to easily dock at the ports, he said, highlighting 75 percent completion at Kemondo port and 73 percent at Bukoba port.