DODOMA: CONSTRUCTION and development of Dodoma, the capital city of Tanzania, has seen significant progress, reaching 89.3 per cent by the end of December last year.
Prime Minister, Mr Kassim Majaliwa said this while briefing members of the ruling party CCM during the Extraordinary General Meeting in Dodoma on Sunday on the progress of the 2020-2025 Election Manifesto implementation.
He said in the second phase of the project, a total of 29 new government buildings have been constructed to house various ministries and public offices.
“By December last year, the project had reached 89.3 per cent and out of the 29 buildings, three are fully completed and were currently in use,” he told the party delegates.
Mr Majaliwa further said that the development of the Government City was going hand in hand with the construction of other crucial infrastructure such as roads, street lighting, communication systems, clean water and sanitation systems, security, tree planting and the development of gardens.
He said, in order to strengthen the country’s Headquarters in Dodoma, strategic projects have continued to be implemented, including the construction of 112.3 kilometres of Outer Ring roads, where construction has reached over 80 per cent.
Moreover, the construction of the Chamwino State House has been completed and it has already been inaugurated. Dodoma is undergoing significant upgrades in its road infrastructure to ensure smoother connectivity between districts and the surrounding regions.
The improvement of roads is vital for facilitating movement within the city and linking it to other parts of Tanzania. Apart from focus on new government buildings, there have also been efforts to improve urban development and housing.
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There have been efforts to build new residential neighbourhoods to accommodate the influx of government workers, businesses and citizens relocating to Dodoma due to its new status as the capital.
These residential areas include both affordable housing and more upscale developments. New commercial buildings, shopping malls and hotels have been constructed to support the growing population and the city’s economic activities. Another milestone is in healthcare facilities, schools and other public services that are gradually improving, although there is still work to be done to meet the demands of the population.
The government is also making effort to develop Dodoma as a transport hub with the expansion of the Dodoma Airport to accommodate more flights as well as construction of the Msalato International Airport in Dodoma.
This new airport is one of the key strategic projects, currently being undertaken by the government and will give Dodoma a completely new look.
In addition, the completion of the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) project from Dar es Salaam to Dodoma is already bringing significant impact to the capital city and the extension of the project to Mwanza and other western regions will connect Dodoma to other major cities, the fact that is expected to improve connectivity within Tanzania.
Dodoma’s strategic location in the centre of Tanzania positions it as a potential hub for agricultural processing and other industries.
The government has been encouraging investments in these sectors, leading to the establishment of various industrial parks and agricultural development initiatives. Efforts to incorporate green spaces, parks and recreational areas in Dodoma’s development plans are also underway.
The city aims to balance urbanisation with environmental sustainability by creating areas for leisure and tourism. Despite the significant progress, challenges remain, including the need for more affordable housing, adequate healthcare and educational facilities to match the city’s growing population.
The city is expected to continue growing rapidly over the next few years, with its status as the political and administrative capital of Tanzania central to its transformation.
