Transforming Dar es Salaam: Reflections on the International Seminar on Human Mobility

Posted: 01 Mar 2003

Related to: Dar es Salaam BRT, Developing High-Quality, Low-Cost Mass Transit, Tanzania
Contributed by: Asteria Mlambo, Association for the Advancement of Low Cost Mobility

On February 4, a delegation of eleven Tanzanians left for Bogotá to attend an "International Seminar on Human Mobility". The delegation was led by His Lordship Mayor of Dar es Salaam, Honorable Kleist Sykes. The delegates had seen videos on the Bus Rapid Transit Programme for Bogotá through presentations of the ITDP Director for BRT, Lloyd Wright, and were anxious to see the actual situation on the ground and learn about the transformation process in Bogotá.

Photo: The Tanzanian delegation during a tour of Bogotá’s TransMilenio BRT system

Dar es Salaam, the capital city of Tanzania, is faced with a number of problems including inefficient urban transport services and management, inadequate infrastructure, as well as increasing levels of air pollution. In view of this, the opportunity to attend the “International Seminar on Human Mobility” was considered as a major step towards solving some of the problems facing Dar es Salaam’s urban transport sector through introduction of a Bus Rapid Transit Project.

It is also in line with the realisation that user/stakeholders participation always helps to build the commitment needed to address problems and has a direct relation to the extent the problem affects those who have to participate in solving them.

It was a fine opportunity for the Tanzanian delegation to be in Bogotá and attend the Seminar. It provided the delegation with the opportunity to learn a lot on the concept of building a “Human City” through the introduction of Bus Rapid Transit.

The delegation was also enlightened on how the relatively uncontrolled nature of the transport system produces significant inefficiencies with regard to transit routing and effective delivery of services. Success of Bogotá is therefore inspiring for Tanzania delegation.

The delegates also learnt of two distinct periods of “Hatred” (the Congested City) and “Love” (a Human City) for the same city, which implies that one can certainly transform the deteriorating Dar es Salaam City and other urban centers in Tanzania into better places to live.

Photo: In Dar es Salaam, vendors take over a bus lane.

During the last day of the seminar, the Dar es Salaam Mayor, Honorable Kleist Sykes, extended sincere appreciation of the Tanzanian delegation to the people of Bogotá, whose devotion created a rich learning ground for other cities and to the Seminar organisers for facilitating the seminar that proved to be a truly a major forum for key mobility stakeholders in the world.

“In my capacity as Mayor of Dar es Salaam City, I am determined to guide the process and transform the City in conformity with the name Dar es Salaam, which literally means “Harbour of Peace,” the Honorable Mayor of dar es Salaam said in his final remarks.

It is the sincere expectation of the Tanzanian delegation that the closing words of the Honorable Mayor of Dar es Salaam will soon come true. Indeed, the activities undertaken so far by the Dar es Salaam City Council together with the Government of Tanzania have placed a high priority upon modernising public transport sector in cooperation with local and international organisations.

The immediate priority has been placed on investigating the potential of Bus Rapid Transit as a cost-effective option. The BRT project is wholly consistent with the goals of the developed plans of the Dar es Salaam City Council. The BRT initiative also satisfies the requirement of the National Transportation Policy.

The Tanzanian delegation also believes that the process of transforming Dar es Salaam will be more effectively guided after the Human Mobility Seminar. It is the belief of the delegates from Tanzania that the long trip was worthwhile. It is interesting to note that the delegation from Tanzania was very much impressed by the bicycle infrastructure in Bogotá.

It is our belief that the new Dar es Salaam Transportation Plan to be developed in the near future will fully integrate BRT with Non-Motorized options. However, to come up with a success story like Bogotá there has to be “the full commitment” of the local authorities in Dar es Salaam and Central Government which we hope to continue receiving as we pursue the BRT Project for Dar es Salaam.