MPs on capital: Dar or Dodoma?

Mkanyageni MP, Mohamed Habib Juma Mnyaa (CUF)

With several government offices moving to Dar es Salaam and the alleged slow shift of government offices to Dodoma, Members of Parliament argue it is no longer clear, which of the two cities is the capital.

The concerns and queries were raised yesterday by MPs in Dodoma who questioned the government’s commitment and determination to base its operations in Dodoma and reassert the city as, the nation’s capital.

“It is astonishing to see government departments which were based in Dodoma move to Dar es Salaam, does the government really plan to move to Dodoma…,” inquired Habib Mnyaa (CUF-Mkanyageni)   “I think, the government is not ready to move its offices to Dodoma,” said Special Seats MP, Felister Bura (CCM) giving the reason behind her concern as “…because it allocates very small amounts of money to develop the capital…,” Mnyaa said.

Responding to the MPs queries, Minister in the Prime Minister's Office, Policy, Coordination and Parliamentary Affairs, William Lukuvi assured legislators that the plan to move the capital from Dar es Salaam to Dodoma is intact.
“We are serious and determined to ensure that the government shifts to Dodoma..., “he pledged and as example to that commitment he pointed out that at least two ministries have their offices in Dodoma, the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Administration (TAMISEMI) and the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Cooperatives.

“This is a good start,” said the Minister in an effort to allay the concerns of the MPs but they were not to be swayed easily. Some even claimed that countries like Malawi and even Nigeria are seen the value of Tanzania’s reasons behind the choice of its capital’s location went on to relocate their capital cities.

Malawi moved its capital from Blantyre to Lilongwe and Nigeria from Lagos to Abuja.
Further, in her basic question, Felista Bura (Special Seats-CCM) tasked the government to detail a specified time frame within which it will execute the move to Dodoma.

Responding, the minister said the government in collaboration with other donors has allocated 32bn/- to CDA to set up the necessary infrastructure and the improvement of other services necessary to facilitate the shift to Dodoma.

In fact, according to the minister, CDA has already surveyed and distributed some 63,954 plots for the set up of residential and business complexes ahead of the move. Further, according to Lukuvi, Dodoma Regional Hospital has been upgraded to a referral hospital in preparations for government’s move to Dodoma.

Also, CDA has already put in place a working drainage system, constructed 300 government houses along side other related residential properties to the count of 480 CDA owned houses.

“CDA has also managed to dish-out plots for government institutions and ministries to develop…it has also allocated an area for the construction of an international airport and it is has surveyed another area for the set up of an ultra-modern bus terminal…,” revealed the minister.

“I can assure you MPs, that the government will shift to Dodoma…as soon as all necessary facilities and services are in place,” Lukuvi told the House. 

SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN