Dar es Salaam Regional Commissioner Saidi Meck Sadik has supported the idea floated by parliamentarians to have the city divided into more districts or regions for effective management of the sprawling commercial hub.
Mr Saidi Meck Sadiki
“There is logic in the proposal made by the lawmakers and I support it. The city is growing rapidly and dividing it would ensure efficient administration,” Mr Sadik said in a telephone interview when responding to queries by the ‘Daily News’ regarding the MPs’ suggestion, adding:.
“With a population of 4.5 million people, not to mention the daily influx of people from neighbouring areas such as Bagamoyo, Kibaha and Mkuranga, it is obvious that Dar es Salaam has to be divided.”
The RC noted, however, that the process to divide the city needs a long process which would involve the people and the three municipalities comprising the region.
Members of Parliament, mainly from the city, recently suggested during the ongoing session of the National Assembly that the region should be divided into either more districts or have a new region formed from it for effective management.
The MPs made the proposal when contributing to budget estimates for the Prime Minister’s Office a fortnight ago. They included Kinondoni and Temeke MPs – Mr Iddi Azzan and Abbas Mtemvu, respectively, as well as Special Seats MP, Ms Zarina Madabida.
Dar es Salaam is currently made up of three districts which also make up the municipal councils of Temeke, Kinondoni and Temeke.
Responding to the proposal by the MPs in the august House, Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office (Regional Administration and Local Government), Ms Hawa Ghasia, said it was upon the city residents to initiate the move to divide the region through lawful meetings.
Mr Mtemvu had charged that most facilities in the city were chocked by a large increase in the number of people, citing Keko Remand Prison which was constructed in 1957 to accommodate 350 inmates but was presently handling between 950 and 1,000 inmates.
His sentiments were echoed by Mr Azzan, who noted that the population of the city was very high and constantly rising, saying this necessitated a division of the city if it was to be properly managed.
“I join fellow MPs from Dar es Salaam to call for the division of the city into smaller districts because it is obvious that it cannot be properly managed in its current set-up,” the MP said.
The MPs also complained that the former three district hospitals in the region which were recently upgraded to regional and referral ones had not been allocated enough drugs, medical supplies and equipment. They are Ilala, Amana and Mwananyamala hospitals.
By ALVAR MWAKYUSA, Tanzania Daily News
