AS the sixth phase government under President Samia Suluhu Hassan clocks three years’ of reign, the government has been keenly looking at various economic development from the grassroots to national level.

The government has also shown firm commitments while cherishing various national mega infrastructural development projects taking place in various places in the country.

These have been moving ahead in high pace as per contractual agreement under the slogan titled; ‘Kazi Iendelee’ literally meaning the work continues.

Among the most development initiatives currently being spearheaded by the government is linked to tourism potentials found in all six city councils across the country. 

These are Dodoma (capital city), Dar es Salaam, Mbeya, Mwanza, Tanga and Arusha which are driven for people’s development status as part of its program called, “Cities Developments”.

Taking into account the importance of these cities in the country and their potentials in every aspects of human development, the government also takes care with keen interest to appoint hardworking leaders who could stand firm to bring the needed developments closer to the majority citizens.

Tourism value chain stands as main criteria in this development focus as it defines a key component of the country’s economy bearing in mind the fact that the sector contributes to an estimated 17 percent of the country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

In addition, tourism builds the country's third-largest source of employment by directly employing over 850,000 workers in entire country.

Opportunities for investment are immense including hotels’ construction, leisure parks, ground golf courses, conference tourism, air/ground transport, wildlife farming and tour operations.

Others are trophy hunting, sea and lake cruising, deep sea fishing, development of eco-tourism facilities, beach tourism, cultural and many others alike including accommodation for visitors.

From the findings of various studies, it’s clear that there are a number of challenges ranged from lack of government support linked to lack of education and training as well as poor infrastructure.

Others includes poor marketing strategies, lack of community support, insecurity and poor customer care service, these stands as constraints to the entire development of the sector in order to grow.

But if these are well maintained, the contribution of tourism development becomes the leading job creator to enable citizens strengthens the local economy, and reduces poverty and inequality among people in local communities.

Tanzania is proud to have maintained its most tourist destination centres in various places which are so attractive to visitors especially at this time when tourism business is peaking up. 

Though the size and scale of Tanzania may be overwhelming, people usually make it an easy-going place to visit for a holiday. Small towns and bigger cities do offer good connections to the main natural attractions that make visitors become enjoyable.

In order to accomplish the need one might decide to make use of the holiday to fulfill the need of visiting some of the most attractive places in Tanzania with intent to see its historical importance and how useful have those places been for the economic development of the country.

It is for these reasons that, President Samia recently appointed former CCM party Ideology and Publicity Secretary Paul Makonda to hold the post of a Regional Commissioner at Arusha city.

The Constitution of the United Republic of Tanzania has given her the mandate as the Head of State to nominate and provide appointment to selected individuals with relevant professions to fill key positions within the jurisdiction of the government’s administrative units.

These ranges from districts level up to ministerial posts that includes district commissioners, regional commissioners, permanent secretaries, cabinet ministers, heads of government agencies and many others alike including judges and even ambassadors.

The appointment of Makonda by the Head of State is expected to make Arusha city known in the history of modern Tanzania and international community as it is the centre of Northern tourism circuit in the country.

President Samia issued directives after he had just appointed him to take on the responsibilities. The Head of State gave him all these directives at the swearing in ceremony held at State House in Dar es Salaam on April 4th this year.

Among other important directives the President gave to Makonda is to ensure that he collaborates with private investors as well as making sure there is enough accommodation facilities for visitors coming in the region.

“Arusha is famous with a number of international organizations therefore go and supervise all that can bring good fame to the country and the city itself”, “Her Excellency the President told the 43 year old CCM cadre who seem to be the youngest RC in the country. 

Two days thereafter, the youngest RC arrived in Arusha in a fantastic style and held a meeting after having been handed office tools from his predecessor John Mongela and detailed at least six targets that he intended to closely monitor while in office.

These includes laying the groundwork for justice, accountability, tourism, the economy, stability and security as well as addressing public concerns and deal with corrupt workers, lazy workers, those who snatches people’s properties and those who are not diligent while performing their duties.

Geographically, Arusha is the third largest city and the main base for the northern tourist circuit in Tanzania and is close to Kilimanjaro International Airport (KIA).

It is in Arusha Region whereby the famous tourist cultural group in Tanzania comes from. These are the Maasai and the Mang’ati ethnic groups. 

Perched under Mount Meru which stands on the eastern edge of the Great Rift Valley, the city is surrounded with a temperate climate that is flourished by coffee plantations and flower farms.

Many people do travel on their way to the wildlife conservations and national parks such as the famous Serengeti, Tarangire and Ngorongoro national parks, or climbing up Africa's tallest mountain Kilimanjaro any view many other natural features. 

Among the best national parks out of these is the famous Serengeti which has acquired an international accolade for being home to more than one million species of large mammals. It’s also a World Heritage Sites and also has the honour of being named the seventh world wonder.

Arusha is also known to be called ‘The Geneva of Africa’ since it's the de facto capital of the East African Community (EAC), hosting it as well. The city was the host of the International Criminal Tribunal of Rwanda since 1994.

The city has historically served as a venue of choice for the negotiation and signing of various peace agreements. This process was spearheaded by the Government of Tanzania due to the city's historical and strategic diplomatic role.

Arusha is seen as a major international diplomatic hub as it hosts the African Court of the African Union and in 1967, it was chosen as a most convenient site for the allocation of the administrative headquarters building for East African Community (EAC) partner states.

The current constructed building is located along the Makongoro Road at the centre of the roundabout and is adorned with national flags of eight member states which currently include Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, South Sudan, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Ethiopia which joined the community in February this year.

The construction of the new headquarter building which is located adjacent to the Arusha International Convention Centre (AICC), was financed by the Federal Republic of German for a total of 37 million Euros in grants between 2016 and 2018. 

The building covers a total of 15,000 square meters and comprise of three twin buildings of four storeys each, with provisions for future extensions.

It accommodates three organs of the regional body, namely, the East African Court of Justice (EACJ), the Secretariat and the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA).

In recent years, Arusha city gained its reputation as a most famous for the international community from 1994 to 2015 when the UN Security Council decided by its Resolution in November 1994 that it should host the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda. 

Among the most remembered is the Peace and Reconciliation Agreement for Burundi which was signed on 28 August 2000 as part of a process in that country through power sharing and establishing a transitional government. 

Within the city center, there are some of the most significant landmarks such as Independence Tower and Arusha Declaration Museum building which are located at Kaloleni area. Until 1967, this building was used as a social welfare hall. 

It is in this building whereby official documents ceding independence to Tanganyika were signed by the United Kingdom way back in 1961 as well as that one of the Arusha Declaration of 1967, thus making Arusha a crucial city in the history of modern Tanzania. 

In January 1967 the building hosted the historical meeting from which Tanzania’s Political and Economic Policy of Socialism and Self-reliance was drawn. On February 1977 the building was converted into a small political museum.