A case for merging Dar es Salaam and Coast regions

This begs the question: can their destinies be merged to promote shared economic growth and create a balanced socio-economic landscape?

Dar’s allure is undeniable. It is the largest city and economic hub of Tanzania.

It commands a third of Tanzania’s urban population, a third of Tanzania’s GDP, and 80 percent of Tanzania’s tax revenues.

This is the city that promises opportunities for many in Tanzania and beyond, making it one of the fastest-growing cities in the world.

But success breeds challenges. Traffic snarl-ups, inadequate infrastructure, and informal settlements weigh heavily on Dar’s residents thus adversely affecting residents’ quality of life.

As a result, many live wretched lives, as the government appears to be out of its depth in turning the situation around.

Beyond Dar’s perimeters lies Coast. Twenty times Dar’s size yet with only a third of its population, it offers a tranquil life under swaying palms.

However, limited infrastructure and rural isolation cast a shadow on its potential.

But Coast’s potential to balance Dar’s urban hustle makes it a fascinating player in the region’s future.

For better or for worse, the two regions are intricately connected. Dar thrives on Coast’s bounty – its food, raw materials, and, for tourists, sun-kissed shores and national parks.

Coast, in turn, receives the lifeblood of infrastructure and services from Dar.

This interdependence suggests not just proximity, but a unified whole, where each region fuels the other’s potential.

On the negative side though, Dar’s success comes at the expense of Coast.

This is true from Dar’s very founding in the 1860s which drew people and resources from Bagamoyo to Dar. Bagamoyo’s fate was sealed when Tanzania’s German colonial masters made Dar the de facto capital in 1891.

Since then, Coast has generally faced the scourge of resource drain, as Dar attracts significant government investment and private capital, potentially leaving Coast with limited resources for infrastructure development, healthcare, and education.

Coast’s workforce has been drawn to Dar’s higher wages and job opportunities, thus depleting rural areas of crucial human capital.

The scramble for land in Dar has spilled over into Coast, disrupting traditional land ownership patterns, and impacting livelihoods and food security.

Finally, the residents of Dar have hoarded Coast’s vast lands, mostly leaving them underdeveloped as they speculate on their future value increases.

As a result, the two regions have taken two different trajectories. While Dar’s name echoes across continents, attracting tourists, investors, and development, yet, its rural sibling, Coast – the region with a misfit of the ‘Coast Region’ name – languishes in obscurity, with a GDP that places it at the bottom 20 percent of regions, with the likes of Songwe and Katavi – more than 900 kilometres from Dar. But what if Coast stepped onto the same dance floor, twirling beneath Dar’s dazzling spotlight?

The question is – how do we ensure that Coast’s development is not adversely affected by its proximity to Dar?

Similarly, how do we maximise the regions’ mutual benefits from each other? The merging of Dar and Coast into a greater Dar metropolis will go a long way in achieving that.

On one side, Dar’s name will provide a global passport to open doors for Coast’s beaches, nature, and bountiful fields.

Investors, captivated by Dar’s vibrancy, would see Coast’s potential as an extension of Dar’s urban dream.

This would be a transformation which will give Coast a voice that is amplified by Dar’s thunderous reputation.

On the other side, this will benefit Dar greatly. Imagine well-planned satellite cities springing up in Coast, easing Dar’s treacherous urban sprawl.

Picture thriving rural communities, their farms pulsating with modern farming techniques and empowered by better education and healthcare. See the green belts, lungs exhaling fresh air, cleansing Dar and restoring ecological balance.

And imagine modern industrial parks, buzzing with responsible enterprise, drawing on Dar’s existing infrastructure and expertise. Coast can be Dar’s final saviour, as its rural grace balances Dar’s chaos.

In history, many fast-growing cities have applied this formula to revitalise themselves in the past.

In 2000, the many London boroughs were consolidated into a single administrative entity to enhance efficiency in public service delivery, leading to improved urban planning and infrastructure development.

In 2001, Shanghai was restructured to boost economic development, thus leading to its rapid growth as a global financial and trading hub.

In 1990, East and West Berlin were reunified leading to substantial economic development and the revitalisation of East Berlin.

The strategy works.

In the greater Dar’s case, rapid transport links make all corners of the region reachable within one hour, modern rural communities spring up for those who wish to escape the city hustles, and satellite cities with the much-needed green belts between them arise.

The goal is to promote shared economic growth and create a balanced socio-economic landscape. Alignment of policies and increased global competitiveness would solidify Dar’s position as a thriving African metropolis.

Viva the reborn Dar, viva!

Charles Makakala is a Technology and Management Consultant based in  Dar es Salaam