PM pledges Dodoma move in two months

Premier Kassim Majaliwa  shares a light moment with Inspector General of Police Ernest Mangu during the National Heroes Day Commemoration in Dodoma yesterday. Looking on from left are Chief of Defence Forces Davis Mwamunyange and Commissioner General of Prisons John Minja.  PHOTO | PMO


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Majaliwa directs Cabinet ministers to join him in shifting to the designated capital, saying they have no excuse for not doing so.


Dodoma. Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa yesterday said he will permanently move his office from Dar es Salaam to the designated capital of Dodoma in September. 

Addressing Dodoma residents during the commemoration of National Heroes Day, Mr Majaliwa said he was setting the pace for the timely execution of President John Magufuli’s directive of moving the government to the capital before 2020. 

He said he has already instructed minister in Prime Minister’s Office Jenister Mhagama and the permanent secretary to make sure his residence, located at Mlimwa here, is readied speedily for him to move in by September. 

“In that note, I order all Cabinet ministers to pack their bags with me. I know they all have houses and sub-offices here in Dodoma,” he said. 

Currently, it is only one ministry, that of President’s Office (Regional Administration and Local Government) which is permanently located in Dodoma. 

Mr Majaliwa also challenged Dodoma residents to make the best out of the mass shifting of the government offices and migration of officials from Dar es Salaam and invest in service provision. 

“We will even have embassies and foreign missions here, we need serious investments here. The government has already started with the expansion of the airport, but we need five star hotels here and other top-notch services… that is an opportunity for the locals here to explore,” he said. 

On Saturday, Dr Magufuli told the CCM General Congress delegates that he was determined to accomplish Mwalimu Julius Nyerere’s plan of making Dodoma the Tanzanian capital. 

Yesterday he reiterated the remarks saying Dodoma is the place where the government belongs, and if more than 300 MPs can be accommodated in Dodoma at a go, then his government, which has only 30 ministers and deputies, can also get ample space here. 

The decision to move to Dodoma was taken in 1973 by first President Julius Nyerere. The aim was to bring government services closer to the people owing within the centrality of Dodoma. But the move has been dragging on for years due to financial constraints and lack of political will.

Traditionally, there are no speeches on National Heroes Day, but yesterday Dr Magufuli broke away from the norm and invited leaders to the podium speak.

The first was Former President Ali Hassan Mwinyi who called on the people to support Dr Magufuli since he is a leader who implements what he pledges. 

“He made many promises during campaigns and we are all witnessing his speed and zeal to execute them. Moving to Dodoma was a decision made by Tanzanians many years ago, he pledged to fulfill it and today he is doing it…let us pray for him, protect him and support him to lead us to where he is planning to,” said Mzee Mwinyi.

Representing the natives of Dodoma, Former Prime Minister John Malecela expressed his joy that the government was finally coming to the capital. 

“I was shocked and thrilled at the same time, when I heard  Dr Magufuli  say that the whole government will be here by 2020. On behalf of Dodoma residents, I welcome you all to our town and the nation’s capital,” he said. The Heroes Day is commemorated on every July 25, the day when Tanzanian soldiers were welcomed back home in 1979 after a successful military campaign to oust the invader and Ugandan dictator Idi Amin.

Yesterday, there were prayers and a two-gun salute in honour of  all those who dedicated their lives for the country: from tribal chiefs who fought against colonial occupation, Tanzanian soldiers who fought in the First and Second World wars, nationalists who agitated for independence, the Uganda War fighters and those who participated in the struggle to liberate southern African states. 

This year was the first time Heroes Day was celebrated at the national level in Dodoma.

Meanwhile, Morogoro residents commemorated National Heroes Day with a Kagera War veteran, Warrant Officer 1st class (WO1), Elias Mayunga Machibya, urging people to always pray for peace.

The war veteran, who placed a bow and arrow at the Morogoro Heroes Tower on behalf of others, said he was sorry for those who say we should go to war to achieve democracy in this country. 

“These people don’t know what war is all about. We lost friends who fought for this country. Those calling for war should look at what is happening in neighbouring countries of DRC, Burundi, Uganda…look at South Sudan, Darfur…people there don’t know peace,” WO1 Mayunga noted.