The port city of Dar es Salaam – or Dar, as locals know it – named after Sultan Majid’s palace, the “House of Peace”, is said to be one of the fastest-growing in the world. If the all-day, slug-slow traffic, a favourite topic of frustrated foreigners and Tanzanians alike, is anything to go by, it shows. In a report, the African Development Bank projects that Dar’s current population of 4.1 million will leap to 6.2 million by 2025, an 82 per cent growth since 2010. Megacity status – 10 million people – is on the cards by 2030.
While Dodoma is the official capital of Tanzania, Dar remains the country’s economic, political and social hub. Its growing stature with African and foreign investors has rapidly lent the office buildings and high rises a sleek, modern look in parts – glass and steel twinkle against clear blue skies in the sagging humidity. The extensive expat community tend to congregate in leafy, gated communities serviced by nearby upmarket bars in Oyster Bay, mini malls and South African food chains.
But I’m not here to negotiate a business deal or to scope out private schools and housekeeper services for a move to the city. I’m in Dar to enjoy a slice of local life. To facilitate my access, I have hired Mejah Mbuya, a social campaigner and founder of Afri Roots, a tour and community upliftment organisation. The majority of locals live along the back roads of vibrant though ramshackle outlying neighbourhoods. Most business travellers and passers-by on the way to Zanzibar or Arusha and Kenya on safari don’t linger beyond the hotels, I’m told.
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KZN ready to welcome Indian Prime Minister Modi
Modi is on his first state visit to South Africa, which is one of the legs of his African tour. He met with President Jacob Zuma in Pretoria yesterday before attending a rally in his honour at the Dome in Johannesburg last night.
This morning he is expected to open the Gandhi Museum in Pietermaritzburg, visit Phoenix, north of Durban and later join King Goodwill Zwelithini and Premier Willies Mchunu for a reception at Durban City Hall.
Lucy Sigaban, from the SA Welcomes Modi Organizing Committee, explains the importance of Modi’s visit to the country.
“His visit is critically around energy, around investment. For the first time a foreign leader has come to this space and he has had the ability to merge three continents together,” she said.
“He is a visionary in the ilk of Mahatma Gandhi as well as Nelson Mandela,” Sigaban added.
Addressing a huge crowd of mainly South African and expat Indians at the TicketPro Dome in Johannesburg last night, Modi said South Africa and India can achieve much more together.
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Megacity in waiting: Dar es Salaam is basking in its post-millennial revival
The port city of Dar es Salaam – or Dar, as locals know it – named after Sultan Majid’s palace, the “House of Peace”, is said to be one of the fastest-growing in the world. If the all-day, slug-slow traffic, a favourite topic of frustrated foreigners and Tanzanians alike, is anything to go by, it shows. In a report, the African Development Bank projects that Dar’s current population of 4.1 million will leap to 6.2 million by 2025, an 82 per cent growth since 2010. Megacity status – 10 million people – is on the cards by 2030.
While Dodoma is the official capital of Tanzania, Dar remains the country’s economic, political and social hub. Its growing stature with African and foreign investors has rapidly lent the office buildings and high rises a sleek, modern look in parts – glass and steel twinkle against clear blue skies in the sagging humidity. The extensive expat community tend to congregate in leafy, gated communities serviced by nearby upmarket bars in Oyster Bay, mini malls and South African food chains.
But I’m not here to negotiate a business deal or to scope out private schools and housekeeper services for a move to the city. I’m in Dar to enjoy a slice of local life. To facilitate my access, I have hired Mejah Mbuya, a social campaigner and founder of Afri Roots, a tour and community upliftment organisation. The majority of locals live along the back roads of vibrant though ramshackle outlying neighbourhoods. Most business travellers and passers-by on the way to Zanzibar or Arusha and Kenya on safari don’t linger beyond the hotels, I’m told.
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Home affairs blames biometrics glitch for airport chaos
The Department of Home Affairs (DHA) has blamed a glitch on its biometrics system for the delays passengers experienced at OR Tambo International Airport.
The DHA introduced the biometrics system on Friday last week at ORT Airport – Africa’s biggest and busiest airport, facilitating approximately 19 million passengers a year – in a bid to bolster SA’s national security.
However, since the commencement of the process, travellers and flights have been delayed as the department faced operational difficulties.
Home affairs minister Malusi Gigaba yesterday explained the glitch resulted in South African travellers’ biometrics details – 10 fingerprints and a photo – also getting captured at the airport regardless of the fact that the DHA already has those details in the national population registrar (NPR).
According to Gigaba, the problem has been fixed, meaning South African travellers will not need to go through the biometrics process.
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HOME AFFAIRS TO ROLL OUT BIOMETRIC SYSTEM AT 6 PORTS OF ENTRY
JOHANNESBURG – The Home Affairs Department said that the biometric capturing system will now be rolled out at six of South Africa’s busiest land ports of entry.
The system, which captures traveller’s finger prints at South Africa’s international airports, was introduced by the department in April last year.
Minister Malusi Gigaba this has improved security at South Africa’s ports of entry and while the system has experienced some glitches, he was satisfied with the overall results.
“During the course of this financial year, we’ll be rolling out the biometric capture system at Beit Bridge, Lebombo, Ficksburg, Maseru Bridge, Oshoek and Kopfontein,” the minister said.
The system was met with some criticism from citizens and the tourism industry, who were concerned that it would discourage visitors from travelling to the country.
Gigaba said that in the space of three days last week, the OR Tambo International Airport had experienced flight delays due to glitches in the biometric system.
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