Tanzania designated Dodoma as its new capital in place of the seaside city of Dar es Salaam following a public referendum 50 years ago. Since then, the country has made small steps towards this goal — including the relocation of Parliament in — but Dodoma remained the national capital only in name.
With the inauguration of the new presidential offices in Dodoma in May , the transition to the capital is now all but complete. Ambrose Kessy, a public administration expert, answers the key questions.
It stretches back to the German colonial era. A state agency and ministry were established to oversee the implementation of the plan. This choice posed a difficult development challenge. Government services and resources had to be relocated and infrastructure had to be built.
A comprehensive array of administrative functions were needed in Dodoma. Dodoma was a capital nobody desired, and some called it a political hoax or a white elephant project. I recently published a paper outlining the pivotal role played by President John Pombe Magufuli and his successor President Samia Suluhu Hassan to make the move a reality.
The reasons are complex. The following are some of the most important factors that informed the decision:. Overcrowding and strain on infrastructure: Dar es Salaam has a population of 5,, people and is suffering from overcrowding and infrastructural strain. Moving the capital aimed to redistribute some of the population and ease pressure on resources and public services in Dar es Salaam.
