After dilly-dallying with the proposed, highest urban status for Seven years, Arusha Municipality has finally been upgraded into its coveted City, prestige and the city status was launched this week.President Jakaya Kikwete officially launched the Arusha City, by unveiling the new City Emblem at the Mwenge monument next to the Arusha Declaration Museum grounds on Thursday, the 1st of November and afterwards the head of state laid the foundation stone of the city infrastructure at the corner of Arusha Technical College Road and Father Babu street in Levolosi area.The overall Arusha City inauguration ceremony was staged at the Sheikh Amri Abeid Stadium on the same date involving the entire public, mostly the towns residents as well as other invited guests.The President also used the occasion during his tour of Arusha to inaugurate the ongoing road constructions and street refurbishments in town as well as flagging off the ongoing roadworks for Arusha-Minjingu highway at Nanja section of Monduli, plus opening the army built, Sokoine Primary School of Monduli District.The Arusha City Status was given to the Municipality on the 15th of August 2012 but the effect was realized from Friday, the 2nd of November 2012, following the launch.From this week therefore, Arusha is going to become Tanzanias 5th city after Dar-es-salaam, Mwanza, Tanga and Mbeya. Arusha however ranks second to Dar, when it comes to revenue collection, beating the other three cities.Arusha which came into being in 1900, was declared a township in 1948 and became a Municipality in 1980. It was placed on fast track to become a city on the 1st of July 2005 but the highest urban status was placed on hold pending some adjustment to the towns boundaries
