Tanzania is set to build a new 105 km highway linking Zambia with the southwestern regions in its ambition of boosting trade between the two nations.

The proposed 5.3 million U.S. dollars will be linking Tanzania's southwestern regions of Rukwa and Katavi with the Eastern part of the copper-rich nation, Zambia.

Edwin Ngonyani, Deputy Minister of Works, Transport and Communication said: "This road will play an imperative role in boosting trade between the two countries."

He said here on Friday that construction of the long-awaited strategic road will be executed in the 2016/2017 financial year.

"We've allocated the money for this important road, which is also meant to encourage landlocked countries to use Dar es Salaam Port as their gateway to abroad as they can be using the same road to reach the port," the minister said, stressing that upon its completion the road will have multiple effects.

He, however, noted that Rukwa Region is one of the country's leading producer of maize, the main staple food in the east and central Africa.

Ngonyani said the new road starting from Matai-Kasesya to Zambia will make Tanzania easily export agro-produces from the western part of the country, which in the past was a nightmare.

Tanzanian government is also determined to build 112 km road at tarmac level from Sumbawanga to Kasanga Port in Lake Tanganyika as one way of opening up the western regions with neighboring Zambia and Democratic Republic of Congo.

Tanzania-Zambia Highway (TAMZAM) is the main link between the two nations stretching from Dar es Salaam to Lusaka. 
Source:XINHUA