This archive report was first published on 15 October 2019.
On October 15, 2019, Tanzanian President John Magufuli announced that he had shifted his presidential base from the commercial capital Dar es Salaam to the designated capital of Dodoma.
According to reports, the president made the revelation at Sokoine Centre in Chamwino District while registering as a voter ahead of local elections slated for November 14, 2019.
Magufuli stated, 'I was in Katavi Region, but I decided to come to my home city, Dodoma, to register my name because this is now my official address. I’ve come with my wife to get registered.'
The decision to relocate the capital was made by the founding President Julius Nyerere in 1973, with the aim of bringing government services closer to the people due to Dodoma's central location.
Although the move was initially planned to be completed by Magufuli, he stated in April 2019 that he would move soon, citing his mother's critical illness as the reason for the delay.
Currently, all the ministries and a majority of government departments and agencies are already based in Dodoma.
