More than 2,000 public servants have relocated to Dodoma, says Majaliwa

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Speaking on Friday, December 15, during a ceremony to welcome Vice President Samia Suluhu Hassan, who has also shifted to Dodoma, Mr Majaliwa said the number of government employees included those working in the Vice President’s Office.

Dar es Salaam. At least 2,816 public servants have relocated to Dodoma and in 2019, the number will reach 3,016 people, Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa has told the nation.

Speaking on Friday, December 15, during a ceremony to welcome Vice President Samia Suluhu Hassan, who has also shifted to Dodoma, Mr Majaliwa said the number of government employees included those working in the Vice President’s Office.

“They include Minister of State in the Vice President’s Office (Environment and Union Affairs) January Makamba, hence some activities of the Vice President’s Office have been provided in Dodoma before her official shifting,” he said.

Premier Majaliwa said the Vice President’s shifting to Dodoma was a milestone, noting that they were now waiting for the arrival of President John Magufuli in 2019.

“From today services of the Vice President’s Office will be provided in a five-storey building located in Ihumwa in Dodoma,” he said.

He challenged Dodoma residents to identify and tap economic activities, including running guest houses and restaurants to improve their social and economic wellbeing.

According to him, Singida, Tabora, Iringa, Morogoro and Manyara regions need to improve services in their areas to take care of guests, who couldn’t be accommodated by Dodoma.

“The government is making efforts to improve roads, which connect these regions and Dodoma to reduce time required to reach the country’s capital,” he said.

“One of these efforts is the rehabilitation of the Central Railway Line stretching from Dar es Salaam to Kigoma and then to neighbouring landlocked countries to standard gauge.”

Speaking during the event, Vice President Hassan announced that the National Environment Management Council (NEMC) would shift to Dodoma early next year, announcing plans to transform the town.

“I declare December 21, an official day for tree planting in the town. We need to join hands in this activity to make Dodoma green,” she said.

Welcoming the Vice President, Dodoma elders, including Mr Job Lusinde, accorded Ms Hassan with a traditional name “Mbeleje”.

The government’s decision to move to Dodoma was pushed by President Magufuli a few months after assuming office.

The decision to make Dodoma the capital was made by the Founding Father of the Nation, Julius Nyerere, in 1973.