Tanzania marked a historic leap in infrastructure development as President Samia Suluhu Hassan inaugurated the Magufuli Bridge on Thursday. Spanning Lake Victoria, the Chinese-constructed marvel now holds the title of Africa's longest extra-dosed cable-stayed bridge, cutting crossing times from two hours to just five minutes.
Named after late President John Magufuli, the $2.9 billion project features a 3.2-kilometer main bridge with 680-meter cable-stayed sections. President Hassan emphasized its strategic value: "This isn't just concrete and steel – it's a gateway connecting Tanzania to Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, and the DRC. We're rewriting East Africa's trade geography."
Analysts predict the bridge will increase cargo movement by 40% along the Central Corridor trade route, potentially raising Tanzania's GDP growth by 1.2% annually. The project employed over 5,000 local workers during construction, with Chinese engineers providing technical expertise under Beijing's Belt and Road Initiative framework.
