Head of the European Union delegation to Tanzania, Ambassador Filiberto
Sebregondi, exchanges notes with the director of Heritage, Mr Donatius
Kamaba, after signing an agreement for the establishment of the Dar es
Salaam Centre for Architecture Heritage in Dar es Salaam yesterday.
Second left is the minister for Natural Resources and Tourism, Lazaro
Nyalandu, who witnessed the event.The European Union (EU) has joined efforts to conserve Dar es Salaam’s rich architectural heritage currently under threat from real estate developers.
The EU head of delegation to Tanzania, Ambassador
Filiberto Sebregondi, announced yesterday the launch of a Euro 7 million
(Sh15.6billion) Dar es Salaam Centre for Architectural Heritage (Darch)
aimed at saving and promoting historical architecture in Dar es Salaam.
Darch was jointly launched by Amb Sebregondi and
the Minister for Natural Resources and Tourism, Mr Lazaro Nyalandu,
against a backdrop of demolition of iconic historical landmarks in Dar
es Salaam by real estate developers.
Speaking before the launch of Darch, Amb
Sebregondi appealed to the government to preserve its architectural
heritage in Dar es Salaam saying time was running out quickly.
“Unfortunately not a single day goes without
seeing the risk of this heritage disappearing,” said the EU envoy,
asking: “What has happened to so many harmonious buildings in the city
centre?”
He said the value of the past was often not
understood, nor was the fact that it could be integrated in the future
plans for the city.
“Dar es Salaam is the third fastest growing city
in Africa. It is under extreme pressure to accommodate the business,
trade, housing needs of a dynamic mega people,” said Amb Sebregondi.
He added: “This does not have to be done at the detriment of its unique architectural heritage.”
He said the EU was proud to support the project
that will demonstrate how to preserve and make it become an asset for
the city’s sustainable development.
The Darch project is a joint initiative by the
Architectural Association of Tanzania (AAT), Ardhi University and the
Technical University in Berlin, Germany.
It will be located in Dar es Salaam’s historical
Old Boma on the Sokoine Drive waterfront. The Old Boma will be restored
in six months to serve as a model for sustainable preservation and
provide opportunities to train local craftsmen.
The DARCH project associates are Mkuki Na Nyota
Publishers, The British Council and ANZA, East Africa’s first magazine
for architecture and urban planning.
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