Dodoma City shares blueprint for sustainable urban development

DODOMA: COUNCILLORS and experts from Ilemela Municipal Council in Mwanza Region have conducted a study tour to the Dodoma City Council to learn about the implementation of strategic development projects.

The visit aimed to explore initiatives focused on improving revenue collection, boosting economic growth and enhancing the provision of social services.

Briefing the visitors in the capital recently, an economist with the Dodoma City Council, Mr Mataso Ndege, said the capital city is implementing various projects aimed at increasing revenue and subsequently reducing dependence on the central government.

Mr Ndege said the City Council is also undertaking various initiatives geared towards attracting investment, beautifying the city, and increasing employment opportunities and public services.

The economist added that the implementation of strategic projects has been divided into three phases, with the first phase involving the construction of the Government City Complex (Mtumba Complex), Dodoma City Hotel, and the Machinga openair market, all of which have been completed.

He added that the second phase will involve the Nyerere Square Plaza and Nunge Investment Building projects, while the third phase will include the Dodoma City Complex Mall, Dodoma City Complex Apartment, and NK Complex.

Meanwhile, a statistician from the Dodoma City Council, Nora Mulambo, said the Dodoma City Hotel project cost 11.9bn/-, while the Mtumba Complex project, which includes a conference hall and is being implemented in three phases, will cost a total of 59bn/-.

She explained that the first phase of the project cost 18bn/- and is now 99 per cent complete. She added that the construction of the Machinga open-air market cost 9.5bn/- and that the benefits of the projects are already visible through increased revenue collection.

Explaining why they opted to visit Dodoma over other cities, the Deputy Mayor of Ilemela Municipality, Kuluthum Abdallah, said the visit aimed at gaining experience and learning the methods used by the Dodoma City Council in managing development projects.

“We have come to learn and exchange experiences in order to improve efficiency in the implementation of development projects and the delivery of better services to citizens,” said Abdallah.

The visit is expected to strengthen cooperation between the two councils and enhance institutional capacity in managing and implementing development projects that benefit citizens.

The strong track record in executing development projects and revenue collection has attracted various councils from different parts of the country to visit the capital and learn from its experience.

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Recently, councillors from the North A District Municipal Council in Unguja conducted a study visit to the Dodoma City Council with the aim of learning best practices for increasing revenue and efficiently managing development projects.

The visit also aimed at learning how to identify new sources of revenue, as well as planning and managing the implementation of strategic projects such as markets, commercial buildings, shopping malls and children’s recreational areas.

They also received training on effective ways of improving urban sanitation.

Speaking during the preliminary training session before visiting various development projects in the capital city, an economist at the Dodoma City Council, Mabrouk Seif, welcomed the councillors and expressed the city’s readiness to cooperate with them and build their capacity in order to improve the performance of local government authorities.