Satellite towns for Arusha

Tanzania's National Housing Corporation (NHC) has announced plans to establish two new satellite towns outside Arusha, in the north-eastern districts of Arumeru and Arusha-Rural.

The state body, which is the nation's oldest public property developing agency, has acquired 240 hectares in the Burka area of Arusha-Rural and 120 hectares in the Meru district, to be used for development.

The NHC said the proposed towns would "complement government efforts to control urban population as well as ease pressure on Arusha's central business district." Feasabilty studies have already been undertaken on the towns which will have modern infrastructure in terms of roads, water and electricity supply, as well as shopping malls and industrial parks.

In addition to dealing with Arusha’s growing population – now close to one million – and stimulating industry, the towns are designed to enhance tourism in the safari region. The NHC said that the project would be similar to schemes being implemented outside the South African cities of Johannesburg and Durban.

A similar project involving the construction of a satellite town in the remote Ilakilak Ward in Arusha Rural district was shelved by authorities in early 2012. The proposed new city was to be known as "Arusha DC Safari Town" but was abandoned after becoming mired in problems over insufficient planning and infrastructure. The 175-hectare site was subsequently bought by the African Court on Human and Peoples' Rights (ACHPR).