UN bodies in Tanzania completes shift to capital Dodoma

ARUSHA, Tanzania, Dec. 7 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations on Thursday became the first international organisation operating in Tanzania to officially move its headquarters to the country's capital Dodoma as the government finalizes its own relocation from the commercial capital, Dar es Salaam.

The brand-new building hosting at least seven UN agencies at Mlimwa in Dodoma's Area D suburb was formally opened by Tanzanian Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa with a call to other international bodies active in the country to follow suit in support of the government's own commitment to make Dodoma the bona fide political and administrative capital.

Majaliwa saluted the UN for "opening the door" for embassies and other diplomatic missions to also erect offices in Dodoma.

He told them not to worry about having access to various basic social services and infrastructure like roads, water and electricity in the municipality since it is a government priority to ensure these services are available in terms of both quantity and quality.

"The government will provide full cooperation to international organisations that show an interest in acquiring land plots to build their offices in Dodoma," the premier said.

He added that the new Dodoma municipality master plan will soon be completed to pave the way for an expected flurry of new property investments in the near future. The plan, he said, will indicate where the various embassies and other international organisations can build their new offices.

But, Majaliwa also stressed that despite the official decision to make Dodoma the new seat of power, Dar es Salaam will remain the country's commercial hub, which he said is why the government is also working hard to improve its infrastructure.

A total of 2,346 government officials have so far relocated from Dar es Salaam to Dodoma in the almost one-and-a-half years since the decision to move was first announced in July 2016. Enditem