Korean planners will draw up the master plan for the Hombolo Thematic Satellite City, which will be linked to Msalato International Airport and the Mtumba Government City
By Sifa Lubasi
DODOMA, Dodoma City Council has signed an agreement to prepare a master plan for a new tourism city at Hombolo. The city will cover 24,000 acres (about 9,700 hectares), and the aim is to make Dodoma a centre for tourism, trade and investment.
The project is known as the Hombolo Thematic Satellite City. It is expected to include residential and commercial areas, hotels, leisure facilities and a range of social services. It will also connect to major economic infrastructure, including Msalato International Airport and the Mtumba Government City.
The agreement covers a feasibility study and the master plan. It was signed by Dodoma City Council, the firm HOTSAC and Heerim Architects and Planners of the Republic of Korea. Dodoma Regional Commissioner Rosemary Senyamule attended the ceremony.
Speaking at the event, Senyamule said the city would offer a range of tourist attractions, including boat tourism on Hombolo Dam, to bring in visitors from Tanzania and abroad.
“We too want people to come from all over the world to Hombolo and enjoy themselves,” she said.
She said the goal was for Hombolo to become one of the best cities in Africa. She stressed that investors need a friendly environment and that the experts and contractors who carry out the project need full support.
Dodoma City Director Dr Frederick Sagamiko said the project would change the face of the city by opening up new economic and tourism opportunities.
He said preparations began in 2024, when experts visited Korea to learn how cities of this kind are built and managed.
He said the project will cover Hombolo, Hombolo Bwawani, Hombolo Makulu, Ipala and Nzuguni, without disrupting local livelihoods such as grape farming and fishing.
He added that the council is working with financial institutions and other stakeholders to help raise capital and bring in investment across different parts of the project.
Earlier, project coordinator Azon William said the idea for the city came from Dodoma’s rapid growth and rising demand for housing and services.
He said the city would be a centre for tourism, business and culture, with areas set aside for international institutions, embassies and visitors to Dodoma.
He said the “Global Village” concept is meant to let visitors experience different cultures through Tanzanian food, dress, housing and customs, alongside modern services.
The city is also being planned to be safe and green, he said, with good transport systems including rail and public transport, and with climate change and the needs of future generations built into the design.
He said the area around Hombolo Dam, about 1,500 acres, will be developed under a dedicated waterfront management plan to add to the city’s tourist attractions.
He added that some investors have already said they want to put money into hotels and transport services.
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