MBEYA City is edging closer to ending years of traffic congestion and frequent road accidents in the wake of plans to construct a heavy trucks bypass road from Uyole to Songwe, diverting long-haul trucks away from the urban core.

Justin Mrope,  the head of development projects for the National Roads Agency (Tanroads) in the region, said the new route—expected to channel transit traffic away from densely populated neighbourhoods—forms part of a broader strategy to ease pressure on the city’s central road network.

Passenger vehicles, freight carriers and pedestrians compete for limited space, with transport analysts affirming that the Uyole–Songwe bypass road has wider national significance in improving efficient cross-border traffic from the port of Dar es Salaam to border points with Zambia, Malawi and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

Tazara railway carries the bulk of the cargo while Songwe has key border corridors, he said, pointing at the start of compensating residents required to vacate land earmarked for the project. Committees have been set up to address grievances arising from the compulsory land acquisition process, he said.

Technical teams from Tanroads headquarters and its Mbeya regional office are working with district officials in setting up ward-level committees since late last week, with each affected ward forming a committee to enhance transparency and expedite the resolution of disputes.

The committees are chiefly intended for residents who have already received compensation but have concerns, particularly regarding valuation, payment timelines or relocation challenges, he explained.

Compensation is being handled comprehensively, but these committees exist to support affected communities, to avoid anyone being disadvantaged, so residents need to attend meetings and adhere to agreed procedures, he stated.

Solomon Itunda, the district commissioner, said that the government has allocated upwards of 27bn/- for compensation, reflecting the scale of land acquisition required to deliver the bypass road project.

The project affects 12 wards across the city and its immediate hinterland, impacting a total of 2,638 households, in which case an oversight committee to coordinate the ward-level structures and ensure that the project is not stalled by unresolved disputes, he said.

 “The government has begun implementing the project, and more than 300m/- has already been spent on opening the road corridor to facilitate machinery and survey teams access all areas,” he said.

In Iganjo ward, some residents have already started relocating to new plots using advance compensation payments. Many say they recognise the strategic importance of the bypass in reducing truck-related accidents, which have long been a concern along the existing urban road network.

Cheki Talian, an affected resident, said he received 27m/- in compensation after being required to demolish five residential units within the project corridor.

“I had no complaints because the compensation process enabled me to secure alternative sites. We agreed to surrender the land because the bypass is important for public safety,” he said.

Eliud Mbogela, the Iganjo ward councillor, said the compensation exercise was participatory, from valuation to payment, with intent to minimise tensions. Some concerns remain but they are being addressed through government offices and the newly established committees, said.

Mbeya Region is a transit corridor hub with a constant flow of freight trucks transporting agricultural produce, minerals and fuel products, officials noted.