Dar es Salaam. A total of $100 million will be the total cost of the ongoing expansion project for Mlimani City (about Sh224 billion on the prevailing exchange rate) as the investors seek to ensure that the facility meets international standards.
The ongoing expansion involves construction of villas, banking areas and kids’ corner among other facilities.
According to the supplement addendum between the government, the investors and the University of Dar es Salaam , By December 2019 the construction and expansion of the facility is expected to be completed.
A hotel and botanical garden will also be constructed as a part of their expansion. The property was developed in 2004 by a Botswana-based investor Gulaam Husain Abdoola of GH Group.
Now the second phase is being implemented which will expand the facility to have another 8,500 square meters for the mall; a complete conference centre; and another two office blocks with over 5,000 square metres,
The Mlimani City general manager, Mr Pastory Mrosso told Business Week last week that so far, the expansion has gone through phases one and two and that currently, it is in phase three.
“Phase three alone costs $27 million and extra funding will be required for phase four,” he said.
The extension entails expanding the mall and adding a facelift to the existing frontage. It also brings about additions to the Conference centre and the two additional office blocks as well as putting up a basement parking of 342 bays.
Other ancillary works are a fenced and developed Botanical garden with walk ways, demarcated picnic areas and admin block with ablutions and a gym to the residential villas.
The plan envisages building a separate banking hall to ensure comfort and security for customers who make use banking facilities at the place.
According to him, the food court area has also been renovated to have common shade and relaxed atmosphere.
He said the more facilities available at the mall will create more employment for Tanzania at both formal and informal levels.
It is estimated that between 10,000 and 15,000 people visit the shopping centre everyday
