The government has said that the Msalato Dodoma International Airport is expected to be completed and operational by September, 2026, a move expected to strengthen air transport and give more status to the city of Dodoma, which is the country’s capital.
Speaking when he visited and saw the progress of the project, the Minister of Finance, Hon. said the construction of the airport has reached the final stages where major infrastructure including the runway and aircraft parking areas have been largely completed.
Hon. Ambassador Omar said the project began in 2022 in collaboration between the Government of Tanzania, the African Development Bank (AfDB) and the Africa Growing Together Fund (AGTF) with the aim of building a modern airport that will meet the needs of the country’s capital.
“Dodoma is the capital of the country so it was important to have a modern airport that can accommodate the increase in economic, governmental and social activities”, said Hon. Ambassador Omar.
He said According to the project implementation report issued by experts, the first part involving the airport infrastructure has reached 86.73% of implementation while the second part involving important buildings including the passenger terminal, the air traffic control tower and the fire station has reached 75.1%.
“This airport will be among the largest airports in the country, with a runway 3.6 kilometers long and 60 meters wide and a large aircraft parking lot that will enable it to serve many aircraft at the same time”, added Hon. Ambassador Omar.
In addition, Hon. Ambassador Omar said the completion of the airport is expected to further open up Dodoma to domestic and international travel, while increasing investment attractiveness, strengthening Tanzania’s position in the air transport sector in the East African region as the passenger terminal will have the capacity to handle 1.5 million passengers per year, which is expected to increase Dodoma’s capacity to receive domestic and international visitors as well as stimulate economic growth.
The project also involves the construction of a modern 56.2-meter tall control tower, a world-class fire station, power generation facilities and an air conditioning building with modern air transport management equipment.
On his part, the Deputy Minister for Works, Hon. Godfrey Kasekenya (Mb) said that Msalato International Airport is among the important strategic and exemplary projects being implemented in the country under the leadership of the President, Hon. Dr. Samia Suluhu Hassan.
He said the project has been designed with a long-term perspective, with the ability to be expanded gradually according to the increasing demand for air travel in the country.
“This airport has been built to modern international standards and is expected to be among the most modern airports in the country once it is operational”, said Hon. Kasekenya
He stressed that the Government is committed to ensuring that the remaining works are completed on time so that the promise of starting operations of the airport in September can be fulfilled, while noting that the project is part of efforts to strengthen transport infrastructure and grow the National economy through major strategic investments.
During the visit, the Minister of Finance Hon. Ambassador Khamis Mussa Omar, was accompanied by his Deputy Ministers, Hon. Engineer Mshamu Ali Munde (Mb), Hon. Laurent Luswetula, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Finance who is also the Chief Paymaster, Dr. Natu El-maamry Mwamba, Deputy Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Finance, Mr. Nsubili Joshua, Acting Deputy Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance who is also the Commissioner of the Department of Foreign Finance, Mr. Rished Bade, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Works, Ambassador Engineer Aisha Amour, as well as various experts from the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Works including the Tanzania National Roads Agency (Tanroads).
