Dar es Salaam
is where people
get to name
their own streets
SEBASTIAN MRINDOKO
Dar es Salaam
THE Dar es Salaam City Council has expressed alarm at unsanctioned changes to street names in the central business district being casually done by some residents without the knowledge or approval of relevant authorities.
There is increasing evidence of traditional street name signposts being pulled down and replaced with new sign posts displaying decidedly strange names all over the city and its suburbs.
One famous street name in the city was even changed to a new foreign name representing a Hindu religious leader.
Reacting to the situation, DCC Director Bakari Kingobi warned that it was against the city’s by-laws for anybody to change street names without authoritative approval.
And according to Kingobi, the Dar es Salaam City Council is the sole authority when it comes to naming streets in the metropolis.
’’It therefore goes without saying that anybody who unilaterally changes street names without our approval, is breaking the law,’’ he told THISDAY in an interview.
He said punitive measures will be taken against any person or institution found to have changed street names without following proper procedures.
’’I am surprised to hear about such cases I do not know how they came about,’’ he said.
A survey by THISDAY has brought up several such cases, perhaps most notably the famous Kisutu Street in the city centre, which is predominantly inhabited by members of the Asian community.
The original sign post showing ’Kisutu Street’ has been removed, and replaced with another sign post depicting the seemingly-adopted Indian name of ’PRAMUKH SWAMI’.
It has been verified that this is the name of a Hindu religious leader. According to Kingobi, the name change was effected apparently without the knowledge of the city council.
The survey shows that Kisutu is just one of many streets in the city whose Kiswahili names have been changed in favour of discernible Indian names.
Reiterating that it was prohibited for people to change street names on their own, Kingobi noted that doing so would amongst other things confuse Tanzanians and tourists relying on maps to move around the sprawling city.
Meanwhile, apart from tackling the problem of changing street names, the city director said authorities were keen on improving the dilapidated sewage and drainage systems.
’’We cannot rehabilitate all infrastructure destroyed by rains at once, because we don’t have the funds. But sooner or later, after finishing repairs on city roads, we will start working on the sewerage systems,’’ he said.
He conceded that the city’s drainage system was outdated and in need of major rehabilitation.
There is increasing evidence of traditional street name signposts being pulled down and replaced with new sign posts displaying decidedly strange names all over the city and its suburbs.
One famous street name in the city was even changed to a new foreign name representing a Hindu religious leader.
Reacting to the situation, DCC Director Bakari Kingobi warned that it was against the city’s by-laws for anybody to change street names without authoritative approval.
And according to Kingobi, the Dar es Salaam City Council is the sole authority when it comes to naming streets in the metropolis.
’’It therefore goes without saying that anybody who unilaterally changes street names without our approval, is breaking the law,’’ he told THISDAY in an interview.
He said punitive measures will be taken against any person or institution found to have changed street names without following proper procedures.
’’I am surprised to hear about such cases I do not know how they came about,’’ he said.
A survey by THISDAY has brought up several such cases, perhaps most notably the famous Kisutu Street in the city centre, which is predominantly inhabited by members of the Asian community.
The original sign post showing ’Kisutu Street’ has been removed, and replaced with another sign post depicting the seemingly-adopted Indian name of ’PRAMUKH SWAMI’.
It has been verified that this is the name of a Hindu religious leader. According to Kingobi, the name change was effected apparently without the knowledge of the city council.
The survey shows that Kisutu is just one of many streets in the city whose Kiswahili names have been changed in favour of discernible Indian names.
Reiterating that it was prohibited for people to change street names on their own, Kingobi noted that doing so would amongst other things confuse Tanzanians and tourists relying on maps to move around the sprawling city.
Meanwhile, apart from tackling the problem of changing street names, the city director said authorities were keen on improving the dilapidated sewage and drainage systems.
’’We cannot rehabilitate all infrastructure destroyed by rains at once, because we don’t have the funds. But sooner or later, after finishing repairs on city roads, we will start working on the sewerage systems,’’ he said.
He conceded that the city’s drainage system was outdated and in need of major rehabilitation.
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