CCM Deputy Secretary General (Mainland) John Mongella has commended President Samia Suluhu Hassan for opening up economic opportunities in Shinyanga Region by expanding Isaka Dry Port during her three-year presidency.

Mongella made the remarks recently in Kahama District, Shinyanga Region, during a rally as part of his tour of regions driven by small and medium enterprises (SMEs), agriculture, manufacturing and mining. 

He described the dry port as an inland extension of Dar es Salaam port, facilitating trade for landlocked countries in the Great Lakes Region, including Rwanda, Burundi, and the DRC. Mongella highlighted that the ongoing construction of the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) is expected to enhance Isaka Dry Port’s role, with a major station planned for the area.

Approximately 400 trucks pass through Kahama daily along the Central Corridor connecting it to Dar es Salaam. The region also serves as a key hub for regional and international passenger buses, many of which use Kahama as an overnight stop.

Mongella noted that Kahama plays a significant role in Tanzania’s foreign exchange earnings through the export of gold, tobacco and cotton. The development of Special Economic Zones (SEZs) such as the Nyashimbi SEZ located just 4.5 kilometers from Kahama center drives industrial growth, creating jobs and propelling Kahama towards city status. The Nyashimbi SEZ is expected to become a major international trade and logistics hub serving countries like the DRC, Rwanda, Uganda and South Sudan.

Mongella gave an example of Johannesburg, South Africa, where gold mining spurred urban and economic development. He emphasized that Kahama’s gold mining industry is a key driver of its social and economic growth, generating employment and transforming the region into a mining city.

Over the past decade, Kahama population has more than doubled, growing at an annual rate of 8.7 percent, compared to the national growth rate of 3.2 percent. Mongella commended President Samia’s success in economic diplomacy, which has enabled Tanzania to capitalize on numerous international opportunities that have bolstered economic growth. He noted the facilitation of direct access for Tanzanian avocados to the Chinese market, positioning Tanzania as a key player in the East African Community (EAC) alongside Kenya.

During the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), President Xi Jinping commended President Samia’s leadership and recognized Tanzania’s strategic importance as a key investment hub in Africa under China’s new foreign policy framework.