Dar is fastest growing city in Africa

 

President Kikwete

By Syriacus Buguzi ,The Citizen Correspondent

In Summary

“Several African cities, such as Dar es Salaam and Kinshasa are now and will continue to be among the fastest-growing in the world,” says the report.

Dar es Salaam. Dar es Salaam is the fastest growing city in Africa, according to the latest report by the African Development Bank (AfDB).

The report, ‘Tracking Africa’s Progress,’ which was released Monday has projected that Dar’s population will rise from 4 million to 6.2 million in the next one decade, surpassing Nairobi, which was ranked second—whereby the latter will rise from the current 4.3 million to 6.24 million by the year 2025.

Africa has 52 cities with populations of one million or higher–the same number as Europe, according to the report, estimating further that commercial cities’ populations on the continent will rise by at least 80 per cent over the next ten years.

“Several African cities, such as Dar es Salaam and Kinshasa are now and will continue to be among the fastest-growing in the world,” says the report.

Kinshasa was ranked one place behind Nairobi in terms of growth.

The rise, which is associated with Africa’s endowment in natural resources will offer the cities an opportunity for economic growth and will increase demand for services.

According to the chief economist of the AfDB, Trevor Ncube, “Future growth will be supported by this population boom…the urbanisation is driving the emergence of the middle-class.’’

Urban share of Africa’s population has doubled from 19 per cent to 39 over the last 50 years, which means more than 360 million new city dwellers.

But the report warns that serious challenges to governments are likely to rise from this growth—pointing to food supply, jobs provision, housing as well as health care and transport facilities, as the likely snags to emerge as a result of this growth.