Samia: Modern golf course at Ikulu underway

THE proposed construction of the history-making modern golf course in the country’s new State House, Chamwino, Dodoma, is blessing moment for  the country’s sports and tourism stakeholders.

Addressing the inauguration of the new State House in Chamwino, in the country’s Capital City yesterday President Samia Suluhu Hassan confirmed the construction of the golf course and other sports facilities at the Samia Complex in Chamwino area yesterday.

“In continued efforts to develop he area, there is still a lot of work to be done, and the next step is the construction of a modern building which my assistants have called Samia Complex.

“It is a building that will have a meeting hall for between 2,000 to 3,000 thousand people, houses for leaders, especially from our East African Community (EAC) and SADC neighbours as well as lounges for Zanzibar and East African leaders.”

Adding, she said there will be a golf course, a runway and various sports grounds.

Adding, President Samia said the complex’s drawings are ready and what they are doing now is raising funds to start facilitating the construction work.

This will be the second golf course in Dodoma that will give an opportunity for government officials, diplomats and visitors to experience and enjoy the beauty of Dodoma.

President Samia has committed to promoting sports that include golf with the aim of providing opportunities for people to participate in sports, promoting Tanzania through sports as well as putting the nation into the global spotlight.

Chamwino course will be second, after the first being constructed by Tanzania People’s Defence Forces (TPDF) whose foundation stone was laid by General (rtd) Venance Mabeyo.

The project is being undertaken at Ihumwa proximate to the Government City popularly known as the Magufuli City.

Ihumwa course is the second facility constructed by TPDF after the Lugalo golf course in Dar es Salaam which was engineered by the former CDF, George Waitara while at the helm in 2006.

The government has also constructed other modern courses in Serengeti as part of promoting tourism through sports.

Both initiatives have a great and important role to play in promoting the nation so the time has come to participate together in achieving that.

The World Golf governing body, The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews (R&A) of Scotland recently disclosed golf’s widespread physical, mental and social health benefits.

And one of the government’s top officials, Nape Nnauye who serves as a Minister for Information, Communications and Information Technology has supported the report by saying: “When playing golf, it’s like your mind is mostly focusing on one thing – to hit the ball from tee-box to hole. That focus brings you into a place where you do not have room to think about other daily pressure for those who are busy with responsibilities.