- Unity Bridge
The Unity Bridge across
Ruvuma River betweenTanzania andMozambique was proposed as early as 1975, shortly after Mozambique's independence.It was the idea of the two country's former Presidents,Mwalimu Nyerere andSamora Machel . Several design studies and limited construction work were completed in the early 1980s, but the Unity Bridge was not finished due to lack of funds.In 2002 the two national governments made a formal agreement to build a new bridge across the river. First foundation stones where laid both on Tanzanian and Mozambique sides on October 10th 2005. Construction is to finish in 2008.
In 2005, Norconsult was awarded the contract for preliminary design and construction supervision of the bridge. It will be about 730 m long. [ [http://www.norconsult.com/default.aspx?did=9059220/ Unity Bridge - New Bridge between Mozambique and Tanzania] ]
The project would boost development in
Mtwara Region (Tanzania),Cabo Delgado (Mozambique) as well as in theSouthern African Development Community region as it is an important component of theMtwara Development Corridor . It will also shorten the distance along theCape to Cairo Road . [ [http://www.sardc.net/editorial/newsfeature/05030105.htm/ Bridging the Ruvuma, bridging unity] by Bayano Valy, SANF]Environmentalists say it would destroy
Niassa Reserve in Mozambique which is home to elephant, buffalo, sable and roan herds. [ [http://www.mg.co.za/articlePage.aspx?articleid=253128&area=/breaking_news/breaking_news__business/ 'Unity Bridge' to link Mozambique and Tanzania] ]References
External links
* [http://www.norconsult.com/?did=9063941&aid=9033661/ Unity Bridge across Rovuma River between Tanzania and Mozambique]
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