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DIA becomes Mwalimu JK Nyerere...
2005-10-07 07:22:32
By Peter Tindwa
Dar es Salaam International Airport (DIA) has been renamed Mwalimu Julius Kambarage Nyerere International Airport.
The change became affective yesterday.
Announcing the new name of DIA in the city yesterday, the Minister for Communications and Transport, Prof Mark Mwandosya, said the change was meant to honour the founding father of the nation posthumously.
The new name would not only be part of the history of Tanzania, but it would also attract more visitors to Tanzania, Prof Mwandosya said.
The minister said the first airport in the country was built by the German colonial regime in 1918 and was called Mkeja Airport. It was located at Kichwele, Kurasini in Temeke District.
The area was not enough to meet demands and therefore, the new airport was built at Ukonga area and known as Dar es Salaam Airport, terminal I, he added.
In 1979, the government extended the Dar es Salaam Airport to Terminal II that was inaugurated by the late Mwalimu Julius K Nyerere in October 1984,Prof Mwandosya said.
’The changing of DIA to Mwalimu J.K. Nyerere International Airport is a proof that Tanzanians will forever cherish and dignify the hard work, devotion and commitment of the late Mwalimu Julius K. Nyerere to the country,’ Mwandosya stated.
He added that, since 1984 to last year, a total of 9,501,265 passengers had used the DIA, which averages 2,770 passengers per day.
He projected that by 2007, over 1,500,000 passengers would have used Mwalimu Julius K Nyerere International Airport.
The minister reminded the Tanzania Airports Authority to speed up feasibility studies for possible construction of a new big airport in any districts of Kibaha, Kisarawe or Mkuranga in the near future.
TAA director-general Prosper Tesha promised to implement the minister’s directive.
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