Tanzania's quest for new names for old places, and untapping 'arrested' development

I read your travelogue to South-west Tanzania in last week’s edition with interest.

While it may take time for the staff at Songwe airport to embrace hospitality, the airport is having an identity crisis. The facility is located near Mbeya city, within Mbeya region, but carries the name of the neighbouring Songwe region.

The latter region was created in 2016 after the split of Mbeya region. Songwe took the western half of then giant Mbeya administrative area. The two regions, inhabited by more or less similar ethnic communities, share similar names for localities such as Songwe.

Songwe airport or rather an airstrip had existed since colonial times. A few years ago, it was upgraded to what is perceived to be an international airport in a bid by the Tanzania government to open the southern highlands for tourism and investments.

After the upgrading of the facility (which is in Mbeya region), Mbeya people want the airport to be named Mbeya International Airport and not Songwe International Airport. Calling it Songwe would not only mean it is located in the latter region but would confuse potential investors and tourists keen to visit or invest in Mbeya.

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Only last week, the Tanzanian Transport minister admitted that the government was aware of the matter and that it was working on the issue. How long it will take, remains a guesswork. Other pundits say whether it is called Mbeya or Songwe, the difference would be little; the facility has and continues to serve both neighbouring regions.

Songwe was, until seven years ago, part of Mbeya and Mbeya was the headquarters of districts that now make up Songwe. Where is the difference?

Like several southern highland regions, Mbeya and Songwe have distinct tourist attractions; Songwe has Mbozi meteorite, one of the largest in the world which became known to the world in the 1930s.

Mbeya, on the other hand, has some of the best attractions in that portion of Tanzania; the 250 metre-high Kimani Falls and Lake Ngozi , a crater lake with a shape of Africa. Should foreign tourists flow there in droves like in the northern circuit, the sites would be served by the airport which probably awaits a new name!

Zephania Ubwani, Arusha