Tanzania: Government unveils ‘largest’ ship in Great Lakes region

Tanzania has floated a locally built cargo and passenger ship in the Lake Victoria port of its north-western city of Mwanza.

The vessel, which the government says is the biggest in the Great Lakes region, is expected to improve transport between the East African countries that share the lake.

The ship has the capacity to carry 1,200 people and 400 tonnes of cargo and 20 vehicles.

It is being built for 109bn Tanzanian shillings ($46.6m; £38.6m) and is 82% complete.

Speaking at the event to land the ship ashore, Tanzania’s Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Works and Transport Gabriel Migire said the building of the ship was an initiative to help improve trade between the regions bordering the lake.

The government spokesman, Gerson Msigwa, shared images of the ship:

Rasmi MV Mwanza “Hapa Kazi Tu” yawekwa majini katika Ziwa Victoria.

Meli hii kubwa ina uweza wa kubeba abiria 1,200 na tani 400 za mzigo. Ujenzi wa meli hii umefikia 80%. Itadumu kwa miaka 50.#KaziIendelee pic.twitter.com/3I966cM0Ny

— Gerson Msigwa (@MsigwaGerson) February 12, 2023