Songwe is new region - with four districts

ALVAR MWAKYUSA in Dodoma

PRESIDENT John Magufuli has proclaimed Songwe as a new region formed out of Mbeya and announced formation of six new districts, including Ubungo and Kigamboni in Dar es Salaam.

The announcement was made here yesterday during a news conference by Minister of State in President’s Office (Regional Administration and Local Governments), Mr George Simbachawene.

Mr Simbachawene announced the new districts apart from those in Dar es Salaam as Songwe (Songwe), Kibiti (Coast), Malinyi (Morogoro) and Tanganyika (Katavi).

The new region will have four districts namely Songwe, Mbozi, Ileje and Momba. In another development, the minister hinted that there would be a re-run for elections of mayors in Kinondoni and Temeke Municipalities due to the formation of the new administrative areas in the country’s commercial city.

“It is obvious that Ubungo and Kigamboni will have their own authorities and mayors and thus there will be a re-run in Kinondoni and Temeke,” the minister told journalists after the news conference.

He went on to explain the election for the mayor of Dar es Salaam which is slated for February 8, this year, should continue as planned pending formation of new district councils in Ubungo and Kigamboni.

“The election should go on as planned lest I obtain different legal opinion. But one thing should be clear that even if the election for the mayor is conducted there may be changes in the future to warrant re-run of the election,” Mr Simbachawene told journalists.

The minister directed regional authorities in the newly formed administrative areas to look for interim offices to host executives.

“The government has allocated 500m/- to put up buildings to host offices and residences of executives and leaders of the new districts and region,” he stated.

Formation of the new areas was gazetted by former President Jakaya Kikwete following requests from residents in the districts and region. On October 18, last year, through a Government Notice Number 461, President Kikwete announced the process to form Songwe from Mbeya Region. On the same date, Mr Kikwete initiated the process to establish the six districts.

The formation of the new administrative areas is contained in GN number 68 of January 29, this year, Mr Simbachawene stated