MV DAR ES SALAAM READY, SET TO START CRUISING TO BAGAMOYO SOON

Works minister John Magufuli (left) and Coast Regional Commissioner Evarist Ndikilo disembark from MV Dar es Salaam after arriving at Mbegani in Bagamoyo District, Coast Region, during a test ride yesterday.

Dar es Salaam. The minister for Works, Dr John Magufuli, yesterday participated in a test ride of MV Dar es Salaam, which is set to ferry passengers from the City to Bagamoyo District.

Dr Magufuli was accompanied by acting Dar es Salaam Regional Commissioner and Ilala District Commissioner Raymond Mushi, Navy commander Maj-Gen Rogastian Laswai and the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary Musa Iyombe.

The three-hour journey started at Kivukoni Ferry in Dar es Salaam at 9:20am to Mbegani in Bagamoyo, which will be the last station.

“It was a smooth and enjoyable ride. The ferry was not at maximum speed because it was just a test ride and everything went well,” said Dr Magufuli after arriving in Mbegani, which is situated five kilometres south of Bagamoyo Town.

Dr Magufuli explained that they were waiting for President Jakaya Kikwete to officially inaugurate the ferry, which he said would be soon after the completion of a permanent docking barge in the city, which is being constructed by navy engineers.

“Once it is operational, passengers must make sure that they do not damage the vessel. Let us take care of it so that it can last for a long time,” he said.

In Bagamoyo, Dr Magufuli was welcomed by Coast regional commissioner Evarist Ndikilo, who called on the ministry to improve the infrastructure around.

First, he asked for the rehabilitation of 4-kilometre road, which connects Mbegani-Zinga Village, which is at the junction of the Bagamoyo-Dar es Salaam Highway.

He also noted that the ministry in collaboration with the ministry of Infrastructure Development would establish a direct route to Mbegani from Bagamoyo because without it Bagamoyo residents would find it difficult to use the ferry.

“Currently, there is no direct route to Mbegani, thus a person going there will first go to Zinga and then board another car…this will force him to pay a double fare,” he said.

MV Dar es Salaam, which has the capacity of carrying 300 passengers, was constructed in September last year by a Danish company, Western Marine Shipyard Limited, for Sh8 billion, which was 100 per cent paid by the government.

The Citizen