Tanzania Completes Longest Low-tower Bridge in East Africa with Chinese BRI Collaboration

Tanzania has completed the Magufuli Bridge, a major infrastructure project that stretches across Lake Victoria. This was confirmed by DU Xiaohui, China’s Director-General, Department of African Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The bridge reduces travel time across the lake from two hours to just four minutes. It was built by China Civil Engineering Construction Group (CCECG) and China Railway, and funded by the Tanzanian government. It cost approximately $300 million.

“With the joint efforts of China and Tanzania, Magufuli Bridge, a key project under BRI was completed recently. This low-tower cable-stayed bridge is the longest of its kind in Africa, and will cut cross-lake travel time from the current two hours to four minutes,” DU Xiaohui said.

Construction of the bridge began in 2019 under former President John Magufuli, but was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It was originally called the Kigongo-Busisi Bridge. However, the project was renamed to honour Magufuli, who initiated it before his death in 2021. The bridge was eventually completed on October 6, 2023 and is now the longest low-tower cable-stayed bridge in Africa.

The Magufuli Bridge connects Tanzania’s Misungwi and Sengerema districts, creating an important link between Tanzania and its neighbours Rwanda, Burundi, and Uganda. Since its launch in 2013, China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has made considerable progress in Africa. In 2023 alone, African countries secured US$21.7 billion in BRI deals. This covered investments in key sectors such as ports, railways, and renewable energy.

In Nigeria, BRI has backed projects like the Lagos-Ibadan railway and Abuja-Kaduna rail line, Lekki Deep Sea Port, Zungeru Hydroelectric project, alongside constructing roads, airports, and power plants. Similarly in Ghana, China partnered on projects like the Tema Port Expansion. These projects strengthen trade logistics and create jobs in West African countries.

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