The Magufuli Bridge

Officially named the John Pombe Magufuli Bridge is a major road bridge in Tanzania that spans 2.0 miles across the Gulf of Mwanza on Lake Victoria.

It connects the towns of Kigongo and Busisi in the Mwanza and Geita regions, replacing a decades-old ferry system and dramatically reducing crossing time from up to three hours to just four minutes by car.

China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation and China Railway 15th Bureau Group began construction in December 2019 and completed it in late 2024, with an official opening date set for June 19, 2025, at US$ 270 million.

Other infrastructure development was undertaken by Tanzanian President John Magufuli before his death.

President John Magufuli made Tanzania a middle-income country.

• He rejected a $10 billion loan from China

• He didn't go on state trips outside Africa

• He reduced the cabinet's size from 30 to 19

• He banned Government officials from foreign trips & abolished their tax exemptions.

• Magufuli accused the UK company, Acacia Mining, of illegal mining and ordered them to pay $193 billion for undervaluing Tanzania's gold exports.

• Over 250 containers of theirs were seized at Dar es Salaam port.

• They paid $300 million and gave Tanzania 16% ownership in 3 mines.

• Magufuli introduced free education in government schools in 2016. He acquired 6 Air Tanzania planes, expanded Terminal III of Julius Nyerere International Airport.

• He built the Tanzania Standard Gauge Railway, the Mfugale Flyover, the Julius Nyerere Hydropower Station, Ubungo Interchange.

• Dr. Magufuli built the Selander Bridge, the Kigongo-Busisi Bridge, Huduma Bora Za Afya, Vituo Bora Za Afya, expanded Port of Dar es Salaam, Dodoma Bus Terminal, an LNG plant, a water project, a wind farm project, Uhuru Hospital project, a gold refinery plant, and Magufuli Bus Terminal.

• The late President Dr. John Magufuli excelled in infrastructure and financial affairs. He faced numerous accusations of human rights abuses and was accused of repressing the opposition. He also banned explicit images or videos online.

During his time in office, the population of Tanzania stood at 58.7 million, with 19 cabinet ministers. He was a true son of Africa, but was a controversial figure for much of his life.

Footnote: Population  of Sierra  Leone is 7.8 million. It has 57 cabinet  ministers including  resident ministers.

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