The World Bank has approved an International Development Asssociation (IDA) credit of US$122 million to support the upgrading of strategic roads in mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar and improve the operations of Tanzania Railways Corporation (TRC).

Amongst the roads to be upgraded are the 110-kilometre Singida- Shelui section of the Central Transport Corridor and three roads in Zanzibar.

It is expected that construction will start during the last quarter of the year for the Singida-Shelui road and during the first quarter of 2005 for the Zanzibar roads. Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Rwanda, and Uganda are also expected to benefit, through increased trade with neighbouring countries.

The upgrading of the three roads in Zanzibar support the development of tourism, agro and fishing industries in Zanzibar, and will help to stimulate human development through making services more readily accessible to local population. (The Herald)