Tanzania’s Minister for Information, Culture, Arts and Sports, Paul Makonda, has revealed plans to construct three major modern sports arenas with seating capacities of 17,000, 20,000 and 25,000 spectators as part of efforts to strengthen the country’s sports infrastructure. According to his remarks, the facilities are expected to host competitions in five different sports.
Makonda announced the plan on Sunday, October 18, 2026, during the basketball final between Dar City and Stein Warriors at the International School of Tanganyika (IST) in Masaki, Dar es Salaam. The event was attended by Vice President Deogratius John Ndejembi, who served as the guest of honour, alongside other government and sports officials.
During the event, Makonda also asked Ndejembi to become the patron of basketball in Tanzania, highlighting the ambition to raise the sport’s profile and attract a wider fan base. The vision places emphasis on increasing investment, expanding competition opportunities and strengthening sporting rivalry beyond football.
Among the leaders who attended the final were Minister for Water Juma Aweso, Minister for Agriculture Daniel Godfrey Chongolo, and Tanzania Basketball Federation (TBF) President Hasheem Thabeet. Their presence brought sports into a broader discussion about investment and talent development in the country.
If implemented, the proposed arenas could create more opportunities to host major competitions, provide platforms for athletes and attract sponsors. However, details regarding the construction locations, project timelines and budgets were not disclosed in the announcement.
