Dodoma
Dodoma, city, national capital of Tanzania, eastern Africa, about 300 miles (480 km) inland (west) from the Indian Ocean. The city is located in the administrative region of Dodoma.
Situated at an elevation of 3,720 feet (1,135 meters) in an agricultural region, Dodoma is a market center for peanuts (groundnuts), castor beans, sunflower seeds, gum, corn (maize), rice, wheat, coffee, tea, tobacco, and sorghum. Coffee and sisal are cultivated in the northern part of the region, and cattle raising is important throughout the region. Industries produce wood and furniture, beverages, processed food, milled rice and flour, soap, and oil. Dodoma is connected by air, road, and rail with Arusha, Dar es Salaam, and Tanga.
Dodoma was designated the countryâs new national capital in 1973. The relocation process from the former capital of Dar es Salaam to Dodoma met with frequent delays and the targeted completion date was revised multiple times. At one point it was scheduled to be completed in 2005; at that time, however, only the legislature regularly convened there. Efforts to complete the move were renewed under Pres. John Magufuli (2015â21) and continued under his successor, Samia Suluhu Hassan (2021â), resulting in a construction boom and a significant increase in the cityâs population. Many ministries moved to Dodoma during Magufuliâs administration, and in 2023 Hassan officially inaugurated the State House, the location of the presidentâs offices and official residence. Pop. (2010) 213,636; region, 2,083,588; (2022) 765,179; region, 3,085,625.
