The Tanzanian government is upgrading Dodoma Airport to enable it to handle larger aircraft.

Tanzanian Minister for Works and Transport, Prof Makame Mbarawa, says the work will be completed in six weeks’ time.

The expansion of Dodoma Airport comes barely a month after Tanzanian President, John Magufuli, said he would make sure that government administrative offices were moved to the capital city within his five-year tenure.

It also comes after the country’s Prime Minister, Kassim Majaliwa, said his administrative office would be relocated from Tanzania’s largest commercial city, Dar es Salaam, to Dodoma in September this year.

Last week, Majaliwa presided over the ground-breaking ceremony for the upgrading of the airport. He said when the expansion was complete, more travellers would be visiting the capital city and, as a result of the increased traffic, travel costs to Dodoma would drop, bringing relief to both local and international travellers.

He added that airlines expected to fly to Dodoma included Air Tanzania, Precision Air and fastjet. “Dodoma Airport will be busy when government administrative offices are relocated from Dar es Salaam, as well as with business travellers and tourists.”

The PM urged Capital Development Authority to revisit its master plan to help improve infrastructure in the capital as the government upgrades the airport to improve air travel.

Tourism Update is increasing its coverage of destinations outside South Africa. Do you have news in East Africa? Send your news to editor@tourismupdate.co.za.