Africa-Press – Tanzania. THE government has unveiled two mega projects that aim to boost the sports and art sectors by constructing two Arts and Sports arenas in Dodoma and Dar es Salaam in the next five years.
This has been made aware through the National five-year development plan that commences from 2021/2022 to 2025/2026.
The two arenas will facilitate indoor sports, artistic performances and international sports and arts festivals that will carry a sitting capacity of above 10,000.
“We have to construct two Arts and Sports Arena with above 10,000 sitting capacity in Dodoma and Dar es Salaam to facilitate indoor sports, artistic performances and international sports and arts festivals that will be held in Tanzania.”
Leaving aside the construction of the arenas, the government will construct a modern football ground in Dodoma and improve the Dar es Salaam Sports Complex (Benjamin Mkapa and Uhuru arenas).
The construction of the hyper class stadium in Dodoma was last year made known it would cost between 80m/- and 100m/- US dollars and accommodate a seating capacity of between 85,000- 105,000 spectators.
The government has made all these plans knowing that the sports sector is an essential pillar in the nation as it creates jobs for a vast group of youths.
The government will also construct a film complex with modern film facilities such as cinema halls, film studios, movie theatres and movie shops.
Through the film complex, the filmmakers will showcase their works of art and sell them. As well the government will construct the house of arts “Sanaa House” in Dodoma that will host the National Arts Council, Copyright Society of Tanzania (COSOTA), Tanzania Film Board, National Kiswahili Council and other related institutions.
These institutions are currently located in Dar es Salaam at the One-Stop centre to make it easier for artists to access services quickly.
The essence of this investment is because “The entertainment industry is one of the rapidly growing tertiary economic activities in Tanzania, attracting massive youth labour force in particular.”
The government has also planned to improve training infrastructure and facilities at Bagamoyo Arts and Culture Institute and Malya Sports Development College, including constructing classrooms, dormitories, library and establishment of Sports Academy.
It will “develop and implement capacity-building programmes to information, culture, arts and sports personnel/ stakeholders for effective management, compliance, professionalism and improvement of products and services.” The college has currently enrolled 300 students but until 2025/26 they will have enrolled 1,300 students.
While number of students enrolled at Bagamoyo Arts and Culture Institute is 350 but in five coming years they will have enrolled 1,200 students.
Moreover the government has set targets on paper that include increasing the number of artists/creative industry practitioners/ groups performing overseas from 720 to 2,312 in five years.
