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Tanzania’s Kalimbaga Takes Over ARMFA As 22nd General Assembly Ends
Tanzania’s Kalimbaga Takes Over ARMFA As 22nd General Assembly Ends
By The Analyst News On Nov 21, 2025
MONROVIA – In a landmark moment for the African road sector, Eng. Rashid Selemani Kalimbaga of Tanzania has been elected President of the African Road Maintenance Funds Association (ARMFA) during the 22nd General Assembly taking place in Monrovia, Liberia, from November 17–21, 2025. He succeeds Dr. Essaîe Moussa Aubin, and promised continuity in the fight for sustainable road financing across the continent.
ARMFA: A Continental Force for Road Sustainability
ARMFA, formally the African Road Maintenance Funds Association, is a non-political, non-profit continental body committed to strengthening road maintenance across African nations. Founded on December 18, 2003, in Libreville, Gabon, it serves as a critical platform for sharing knowledge, best practices, and innovative financing models among national road maintenance funds.
Its mission is clear: promote sustainable and well-performing road maintenance funds so that African road networks remain serviceable, safe, and capable of driving economic growth. Through strategic partnerships and knowledge exchange, ARMFA seeks to ensure that road maintenance is not just an afterthought, but a core piece of infrastructure sustainability.
Today, ARMFA comprises 35 member countries, spanning English-, French-, and Portuguese-speaking Africa, plus one associate member. Members are organized into four regional focal groups—West, Central, Southern, and East Africa—to facilitate region-specific dialogue and collaboration.
Why the 22nd General Assembly Matters
The choice of Monrovia as host city for this year’s assembly carries symbolic weight. It marks the first times Liberia has welcomed such a broad gathering of road-fund executives, policymakers, and infrastructure experts from across Africa. Over 300 delegates from 35 nations convened under the theme: “Innovative Financing and Sustainability of Road Infrastructure in the Face of Climate Change and Mobility Challenges in Africa.”
One of the key issues on the table: how to mobilize more funds for maintenance. As Eng. Kalimbaga himself emphasized, road maintenance financing remains a weak link. He told me, “We have a problem of getting sufficient maintenance funds … we need to put in place a mechanism to ensure we increase the level of funding so that we can effectively maintain our roads.”
Meet the New President: Eng. Rashid S. Kalimbaga
Eng. Kalimbaga comes into this role as a seasoned veteran of the road maintenance sector. He is currently Acting Chief Executive Officer of the Tanzania Roads Fund Board, where he also serves as Secretary to the Board.
His background is deeply technical and policy-oriented. According to documentation from a 2025 transport-asset-management seminar in Tanzania, he holds a Master’s degree in Civil Engineering (Highway Engineering) from Kharkov State Automobile–Highway Technical University, Ukraine. Over more than 30 years in the field, he has contributed to significant infrastructure projects, including:
Developing the Tanzania Roads Database Management System.
Leading the customization of TeRMIS (Transport Electronic Revenue Management Information System) into ReRMIS, an electronic revenue-management system for road user charges.
Overseeing digital systems such as DROMAS, NAPA, and RISE, which support road-asset management and infrastructure planning.
Conducting research into new revenue sources for Tanzania’s road fund, a task aligned precisely with his new mandate at ARMFA.
Kalimbaga’s leadership has also been felt on the road safety front. In 2023, he signed a cooperation agreement with iRAP (International Road Assessment Programme) through Tanzania’s Ten-Step Project, signaling his commitment not just to building roads, but building them safely.
Vision and Priorities Under Kalimbaga
1. Strengthen Funding Mechanisms
Kalimbaga made it clear that securing reliable funding for road maintenance will be his first priority. The challenge is not merely collecting more money, but designing systems that are transparent, resilient, and capable of withstanding shocks such as climate change or fluctuating user charges.
2. Institutional Capacity and Collaboration
He emphasized the importance of robust institutional structures. “I expect cooperation … we can together … take this institution to a higher level,” he told me, highlighting his belief in teamwork and shared ownership.
3. Advocate for Autonomous and Professional Road Funds
Under his watch, ARMFA may push harder for autonomous, second-generation road fund models. Such models reduce political interference and improve governance—a crucial shift for long-term sustainability.
4. Elevate ARMFA’s Profile
Kalimbaga voiced a strong ambition: to make ARMFA more visible, more effective, and more influential across Africa. He pledged to continue the work begun by his predecessor, scaling up advocacy, knowledge sharing, and technical innovation.
Reflections on Liberia and Regional Cooperation
Speaking on the sidelines of the Assembly, Eng. Kalimbaga expressed his appreciation for Liberia and its people. He described his visit as warm and welcoming: “People are very polite … we are enjoying our stay … we saw your government … the roads … the efforts are there … to make sure Liberians have good access roads.”
As a Tanzanian heading an organization that represents 35 African nations, his election sends a powerful message: road maintenance is not just a local issue—it’s continental. For Tanzania, which now holds the presidency of ARMFA, it’s a moment of pride and a chance to lead by example. Kalimbaga expressed confidence that his country’s leaders will back him, saying, “I expect to get support from my leaders in Tanzania … so we can … achieve the objectives … to help this institution.”
Why This Matters for Africa
Roads underpin economies. As Kalimbaga echoed: “without roads, there is no development. Efficient, well-maintained networks are vital for trade, mobility, and access to essential services”.
Maintenance trumps construction. Building new roads is expensive—but letting existing roads deteriorate is costlier in the long run. ARMFA’s core mission is to shift the narrative toward preserving infrastructure, not just expanding it.
Climate, mobility, and funding challenges are converging. As weather patterns become more unpredictable and transport demands increase, traditional funding models may no longer suffice. Innovative, resilient financing is not a luxury—it’s a necessity.
Leadership change can reset momentum. With Kalimbaga’s technical expertise, policy experience, and continental vision, ARMFA is well poised to deepen its impact in the next phase.
Conclusion: A Roadmap Forward
Eng. Rashid S. Kalimbaga’s election marks a new chapter for ARMFA one grounded in technical rigor, financial innovation, and pan-African collaboration. As the Association charts its course under his leadership, its ability to secure sustainable financing, build institutional capacity, and foster shared accountability among member states will be closely watched.
For Liberia, hosting this General Assembly is both an honor and an opportunity. For Africa, Kalimbaga’s presidency signals renewed energy toward a future where roads are assets, not liabilities and maintenance is guaranteed, not sacrificed.
