Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan inaugurated the newly completed Magufuli Bridge, Africa’s longest extra-dosed cable‑stayed bridge, spanning Lake Victoria from Kigongo to Busisi in the Mwanza region. The 4.66 km structure dramatically slashes travel time across the lake from over two hours by road or approximately 40 minutes via ferry to just five minutes by road.
Built by the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) and China Railway 15th Bureau Group under the Belt and Road Initiative, the bridge features a four‑lane dual carriageway designed for speeds up to 120 km/h and a striking 520 m, three‑tower extradosed span. Its towers, styled like open arms, and its vibrant green, blue, and gold color scheme pay homage to the Tanzanian flag and reflect a collaborative design aesthetic.
The bridge’s economic and regional development impact is immediately evident. CCECC reports a 10 to 15 % reduction in cross‑lake transport costs, enhancing competitiveness in agriculture, tourism, and trade for the more than one million residents living around Lake Victoria. The project has also notably driven local capacity-building: about 95% of the workforce were Tanzanians, with over 3,000 jobs created and more than 1,500 local workers trained in infrastructure-related skills.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, President Suluhu hailed the Magufuli Bridge as a landmark that realizes the late President John Magufuli’s vision for national self-reliance and regional connectivity. She emphasized that the bridge is set to enhances Tanzania’s internal and cross-border transport but also “symbolizes a new era of economic independence”.
Chinese Ambassador Chen Mingjian described the bridge as a flagship Belt and Road Initiative project and a model of China–Tanzania cooperation.
Despite facing pandemic-induced challenges, complex terrain, and supply disruptions during its five‑year construction, the project was completed on schedule and to high quality standards . Its opening coincides with a wider surge in China–Africa infrastructure partnerships, reinforcing regional economic integration under the auspices of both the Belt and Road Initiative and Tanzanian development priorities.
