Faraji Y. Kondo

ICT - Database & Project Management Expert | Transport & Logistics Expert | Entrepreneur.

[FLORY OKANDJU OKONGE @FloryOKANDJU]

The three Central Corridor member states of Tanzania, Burundi, and DRC have reaffirmed their commitment to developing an electrified SGR network linking the region, during a Tripartite Ministerial Meeting held in Kinshasa on 31 March 2026.

Convened at the invitation of H.E. Jean-Pierre Bemba Gombo, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport of the DRC, the meeting brought together Ministers, Ambassadors, senior officials, and technical experts from the three countries, alongside the project consultant, with coordination support from CCTTFA.

Participants reviewed and approved the interim report covering railway operations, signaling, telecommunications, and energy components, while emphasizing the need to fast-track the remaining deliverables in line with agreed timelines.

The project was reaffirmed as a key driver of regional economic development, given its potential to unlock opportunities in mining, agriculture, and trade among the partner states.

[FLORY OKANDJU OKONGE @FloryOKANDJU]

While on a working mission in Kinshasa, DRC, today I had the honor of paying a courtesy visit to H.E. Amb. Dr. Deo Mwapinga @dmwaps , Secretary General of the Forum of Parliaments of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region @FP_ICGLR under @ICGLR.

We held productive discussions on the work of our respective organizations and identified preliminary areas of synergy between @CCTTFA and @ICGLR in promoting regional development particularly as six of the seven Central Corridor member states are also ICGLR members.

We emphasized regional cooperation and infrastructure development as key drivers of economic growth in our member countries.

We look forward to deepening this collaboration.

[FLORY OKANDJU OKONGE @FloryOKANDJU]

Yesterday, 12 March 2026, in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), I had the honour of witnessing the signing of the Concession Contract between the Government of the DRC and Boston Developers Ltd for the development of the 45-hectare DRC Dry Port at Kwala in Tanzania.

The contract was signed by H.E. Jean Pierre Bemba, Vice-Prime Minister and Minister of Transport, Ways of Communication and Opening Up on behalf of the Government of the DRC, and Mr. Nilax Bhatt, CEO of Boston Developers Ltd, marking the official launch of the project’s implementation.

The project will establish a dedicated logistics platform for the DRC within the 502-hectare Kwala Dry Port complex in Kibaha District, Coast Region of Tanzania, about 60 km from the Port of Dar es Salaam.

Once operational, the facility will serve as an inland logistics hub for Congolese cargo, helping reduce congestion at the Port of Dar es Salaam while improving cargo clearance and transportation to the eastern and southern regions of the DRC.

Developed under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP), the project will be financed and operated by Boston Developers Ltd, and represents an important step in strengthening trade and logistics along the Central Corridor.

[CCTTFA @ccttfaorg]

Tanzania has taken another big step in improving transport along the Central Corridor with the official launch of cargo services on the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR). The new cargo train service between Pugu Station in Dar es Salaam and Ihumwa Station in Dodoma was launched on Friday, 27 June 2025.

This follows the great success of the SGR passenger trains, which have already carried over 2.5 million people since operations began on 14 June 2024. The new cargo service will support the movement of goods more efficiently and safely across the country.

This is a major milestone for the Central Corridor. The CCTTFA Secretariat congratulates the Tanzania Railway Corporation (TRC) @tzrailways and the Government of Tanzania for this important achievement and their strong support for improving transport and trade in the region. It is a big contribution towards making the movement of cargo and passengers along the Corridor more seamless and efficient.

[Sentinel Global @SentineGlobal]

CHAMA cha Wamiliki wa Malori Tanzania (TATOA) kwa kushirikiana na Chama cha Mawakala wa Forodha Tanzania (TAFFA) wamelia na Ongezeko la kodi ya Thamani (VAT) ambayo kwa kiasi kikubwa imeongeza gharama za uendeshaji hali inayotishia ustawi wa sekta ya usafirishaji ikiwemo kupungua kwa ajira za wazawa na wawekezaji wa ndani na nje ya nchi kutumia Bandari ya Dar es Salaam.

Akizungumza na waandishi wa habari jijini Dar es Salaam uongozi wa vyama hivyo umesema tafsiri mpya ya Sheria ya VAT kutoka Mamlaka ya Mapato Tanzania (TRA) imeongeza kwa kiasi kikubwa gharama za uendeshaji kwa wanachama wao, hali inayopelekea wadau wa huduma za usafirishaji wa mizigo (transit) wanaotumia bandari ya Tanzania kutoka nje ya nchi kutumia magari kutoka nchi zao na kuacha kutumia wadau wa ndani wa usafirishaji jambo ambalo linahatarisha kukosekana kwa ajira kwa watanzania.

Kwa mujibu wa viongozi hao, hivi karibuni walikutana na Kamishna Mkuu wa TRA ili kujadili athari za utekelezaji wa tafsiri hiyo mpya. Katika kikao hicho, Kamishna alielekeza kusitishwa kwa utekelezaji wa mabadiliko hayo kwa siku 30, ili kutoa nafasi kwa pande husika kufanya mazungumzo ya kutafuta suluhisho la kudumu.

Hata hivyo, licha ya maridhiano hayo na kuwasilishwa kwa andiko la kina kwa kikundi kazi cha kodi, TATOA na TAFFA wamesema kuwa bado hawajapata majibu yoyote rasmi kutoka TRA. Wanachama wao wanaendelea kukumbwa na matatizo ya ucheleweshaji wa marejesho ya VAT, huku baadhi ya malipo yakishikiliwa au kupunguzwa.

[FLORY OKANDJU OKONGE @FloryOKANDJU]

Central Corridor member countries continue to strengthen aviation sector connectivity in line with the CCTTFA Agreement, aimed at facilitating the seamless, efficient, and cost-effective flow of goods, persons, and services among member states.

This commitment was further demonstrated through the inauguration of Air Tanzania’s @AirTanzania new direct international flights between Dar es Salaam and Kinshasa, DRC yesterday 25th April 2025.

The event held at N’Djili International Airport, Kinshasa and graced by senior officials of the two governments comes few days after the signing of a visa-free agreement between the two countries facilitating free movement of people.

[FLORY OKANDJU OKONGE @FloryOKANDJU]

A series of bilateral meetings between Tanzania🇹🇿 and the DRC🇨🇩 were held in Lubumbashi from 3rd to 5th April 2025 to review and update the progress on the implementation of priority projects under the Transport Infrastructure Development Program. This program, conceptualized in 2022 under the coordination of CCTTFA @ccttfaorg , aims to strengthen trade between the two countries.

Notable developments have been recorded, especially in the Ports and Maritime sub-sector across Lake Tanganyika. These include the construction of a new port in Kalemie, the designation of 60 hectares of land by each country for the development of dry ports, the construction and rehabilitation of vessels for dry and liquid cargo as well as passengers, the rehabilitation of Kigoma and Karema ports, and the construction of a shipyard/slipway capable of handling up to 5,000 tons in Kigoma.

Progress has also been made in the road and railway sub-sectors including the ongoing construction of the 468 km Kalemie–Nyunzu–Manono road, major investments in the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR), Meter Gauge Railway (MGR), and TAZARA in Tanzania, alongside the Cape Gauge Railway from Lubumbashi to Kalemie in the DRC.

In the aviation sector, new points of entry have been designated: Kalemie and Goma in the DRC, and Mwanza and Dodoma in Tanzania. Additionally, direct flights between Dar es Salaam and Kinshasa via ATCL @AirTanzania are set to commence later this month.

The two countries have finalized the necessary documentation for the exchange of title deeds for the designated dry port areas located in Kwala, Katosho, Kasumbalesa, and Kasenga.

[FLORY OKANDJU OKONGE @FloryOKANDJU]

Yesterday in Kinshasa, DRC, I had the honor of witnessing the signing ceremony of a contract between the government of the DRC, represented by H.E. Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Transport, Ways of Communication, and Opening Up, @bembajp , along with the Ministry of Infrastructure and Public Works, and JINTAI Mining Ltd in joint venture with TEMBO MAJENGO Company. The contract covers the financing, construction, operation, and maintenance of an industrial port in Kalemie, a critical infrastructure link for the Central Corridor region.

[FLORY OKANDJU OKONGE @FloryOKANDJU]

Happy to share my latest research article on ''Enhancing Economic Growth through Transport Corridors: A Study of the Central Corridor Transit Transport Facilitation Agency'' @ccttfaorg published by the Pan-African Journal of Business Management.

Special thanks to my Co-Author: Dr. George John Nyaronga.

Enjoy the Reading through: https://t.co/J0AFGBpqDX.

[FLORY OKANDJU OKONGE @FloryOKANDJU]

With my dear brother, H.E. @ClaverGatete, Executive Secretary of @ECA_OFFICIAL at the 2025 Eighth Africa Business Forum at the historic Africa Hall in Addis Ababa. Congratulations on organizing such a remarkable #ABF2025, focusing on regional value chains (RVCs) and special economic zones (SEZs) across Africa.

Your powerful call to rewrite Africa’s narrative from a continent of untapped potential to a global powerhouse of production, innovation, and self-sufficiency was my key takeaway. I look forward to accelerating this vision through Central Corridor @ccttfaorg initiatives.

[FLORY OKANDJU OKONGE @FloryOKANDJU]

📍Addis-Ababa, Ethiopia.
At the invitation of UNECA’s Executive Secretary, @claverGatete , I had the pleasure of participating in the 2025 Eighth Africa Business Forum (#ABF2025) today. The Forum focused on regional value chains (RVCs) and special economic zones (SEZs) in Agro-Industrial, livestock, and pharmaceuticals across Africa. The discussions held align with the Central Corridor @ccttfaorg’s vision of transforming from a mere transit transport corridor into a Green Economic Development Corridor, driving high-impact RVCs with the greatest economic potential for the region.

On the sidelines of the event, I had the honor of depositing Zambia’s Instrument of Accession to the CCTTFA Agreement with the @ECA_OFFICIAL Secretariat. Zambia became Central Corridor's 7th Member State effective October 8, 2024.

[FLORY OKANDJU OKONGE @FloryOKANDJU]

Today in Dar es Salaam, I witnessed another key milestone for the Central Corridor SGR project, the signing of a Works Contract for the 282 km railway from Uvinza (Tanzania) to Musongati (Burundi). This strategic cross-border infrastructure will boost regional connectivity, trade, and integration.

I reaffirmed @ccttfaorg's commitment to coordinating the planning and implementation of this transformative Central Corridor SGR project, ensuring alignment with the vision of our Heads of State and support from key development partners. @tzrailways @MielsBurundi @WizarayaUC @AfDB_Group

[FLORY OKANDJU OKONGE @FloryOKANDJU]

Yesterday, I had the opportunity to share the experiences and Success Stories of @ccttfaorg as a Corridor Management Institution (CMI) during the session on "Sustainable and Competitive Transformation of Hinterland Management" at the 19th Round Table of General Directors. This session was part of the 44th Annual Conference of the West and Central Africa Ports Management Association (AGPAOC) @pmawca , currently taking place in Conakry, Guinea, from November 18 to 21. The discussion emphasized the importance of well-functioning CMIs as key enablers for optimizing hinterland connectivity.

[FLORY OKANDJU OKONGE @FloryOKANDJU]

We're celebrating another milestone for the DRC-Tanzania Transport Infrastructure Program with the groundbreaking for the construction of the 446km Kalemie-Manono road yesterday at Kalemie, a vital link that will connect Eastern DRC to Kigoma, Tanzania 🇨🇩🇹🇿.

With CCTTFA's @ccttfaorg coordination, here’s how we got here:
📍July 2022:TZ &DRC experts conduct joint assessments of rail, road, and waterways along Lake Tanganyika region.
📍July 2022: Ministerial Bilateral Cooperation MoU signed in Kalemie to pave the way for joint infrastructure development.
📍Nov 2023: Ministerial meetings in Dar for the endorsement of program activities and funding sources, bringing in private sector interest.

[CCTTFA @ccttfaorg]

Today, the Central Corridor Transit Transport Facilitation Agency (CCTTFA) and the Maritime Organization for Eastern, Southern, and Northern Africa (MOESNA) signed a Memorandum of Cooperation to facilitate cooperation/collaboration between the two organizations on all matters related to shipping, maritime affairs, transport logistics and inter-regional trade.

[CCTTFA @ccttfaorg]

Today, the Republic of Zambia officially joined the Central Corridor Transit Transport Facilitation Agency (CCTTFA) as its seventh member state. This significant step took place during CCTTFA extraordinary Council of Ministers Meeting in Kinshasa and marks the formal integration of the Central Corridor and the Dar es Salaam corridor, aiming to enhance trade and economic development in the region.

[CCTTFA @ccttfaorg]

Happy Independence Day to our brothers and sisters from the Republic of Uganda.

[FLORY OKANDJU OKONGE @FloryOKANDJU]

Thrilled to welcome Republic of Zambia 🇿🇲as the 7th Member State of the Central Corridor! Their signing of the CCTTFA Agreement yesterday, 8th Oct in Kinshasa during the Ministerial meeting joins Burundi, DRC, Malawi, Rwanda, Uganda & Tanzania to advance the
@ccttfaorg Agenda

[FLORY OKANDJU OKONGE @FloryOKANDJU]

The Rail Cold Chain, part of a strategy to strengthen rail transport along the Central Corridor, was launched today in Kilosa-Morogoro by Transport Deputy Minister, Hon.Kihinzile. Jointly prepared by @tzrailways,@WFP_Tanzania & @ccttfaorg it complement ongoing railway investments

[FLORY OKANDJU OKONGE @FloryOKANDJU]

Today, at the 2nd @AfDB_Group #ATF2024 in Abidjan, I had an opportunity to share with participants, various initiatives undertaken on roads, railways, ports, and inland waterways along the Central Corridor @ccttfaorg to enhance Africa’s connectivity.