Chapter 322: Inspecting Dodoma City
After some initial investigation, Ramoscato concluded that the city of Nairobi has considerable potential. In his view, perhaps more businesses besides textiles could be developed there. Of course, if it's confirmed that Kitui does indeed have coal, so much the better. Most importantly, at present, there are no other competitors in Nairobi aside from the official East African administration; most of his colleagues are crowding into Mombasa.
…
March 28 – Discontent among the citizens of Paris erupted, with Parisians taking up arms to seize control of the city, determined to break away from the traitorous French government. On the same day, King Constantinoo of East Africa began his inspection of the inland city of Dodoma.
In the previous era (in real history), Dodoma was the capital of Tanzania. Within East Africa, its status could be described as a "transport hub, a spot every power fights over"—in other words, it's quite ordinary, nothing worth bragging about.
That's the reality. Even though it was once Tanzania's capital in the past, Dodoma couldn't outdo Dar es Salaam. The president spent more time in Dar es Salaam than in Dodoma, and many government agencies also refused to move. This nominal capital felt more like a secondary city compared to Dar es Salaam.
The reason Dodoma became the capital of Tanzania was because it sits at the geographical center of Tanzanian territory. But in the East African Kingdom, the geographical center is now Mbeya City. Dodoma's role in East Africa is a transportation hub, yet there are several hubs at the same level within East Africa, and Dodoma is hardly the only one.
Currently, Dodoma serves as the capital of Highland Province and is a center for agricultural trade and goods distribution. The province focuses on agriculture and animal husbandry, and Dodoma itself has a mere twenty thousand residents (not counting the indigenous population). Of the earliest batch of East African cities to be developed, it's not particularly remarkable.
Average annual rainfall ranges from 400 to 600 millimeters, making it a low-precipitation pocket on the East African highlands. Rainfall is higher in the regions to the east, south, north, and west.
As a result, the climate is distinctly savanna-like; livestock breeding is relatively advanced, and people grow mostly drought-resistant crops like wheat, corn, sesame, potatoes, and cotton.
Constantinoo visited Dodoma to get a sense of how East Africa's inland highland climate differs from that of the coastal regions.
Upon arriving in Dodoma, Constantinoo and his party did not immediately head into the city. Instead, accompanied by local officials, they first observed the local agricultural development.
Constantinoo remarked, "Dodoma feels noticeably cooler than First Town. Is it like this in all the East African highlands?"
Siweite replied, "Yes, Your Majesty. I've traveled extensively in East Africa, and every highland area has a similar climate. However, Dodoma's rainfall is much lower than in other highland cities—that's the main weakness of Dodoma's agriculture."
An official of Highland Province, Guderian, added: "Although rainfall is low, that also gives Dodoma and the entire Highland Province a special niche in East Africa's agriculture. Its cool, dry weather has made Highland Province the top producer of potatoes in the entire kingdom. Our wheat and other crops are also of superior quality here, and our livestock industry is among the most developed in East Africa."
Guderian is quite experienced when it comes to planting potatoes. He's from a rural area of Lower Saxony in Germany, which is also one of Germany's main potato-producing regions.
As for raising livestock, Highland Province has clear advantages. Although its total area can't compare to the northern pastures of East Africa, its rainfall is generally better than in the northern grazing lands (mainly in Eastern Province, Turkana Province, and Juba Province). In terms of providing draft animals across the kingdom, it outperforms the northern ranches. However, the northern ranches are stronger in exporting meat, using the advantage of sea transport from Mombasa or Kismayo to reach European and Middle Eastern markets.
Constantinoo commented, "Indeed, this climate is quite similar to Prussia's."
Guderian said, "Yes, Your Majesty. Both Lower Saxony and our Highland Province average around 17 degrees Celsius per year. But this province is more balanced—no real winter or summer, so temperatures barely change all year. The daily temperature swings here are bigger than in Lower Saxony, and rainfall is roughly the same, though Lower Saxony's is more evenly distributed."
Constantinoo observed, "That means we can't ignore the rainfall issue. East Africa's precipitation was already more erratic than Germany's, and its water infrastructure lags far behind. If we want to improve East African agriculture, we must build better water facilities."
Siweite said, "We've been proactively doing that. Every year, infrastructure projects are one of the government's top concerns. Whenever we have the manpower, we organize slave labor to dig canals and build irrigation systems in the fields."
Constantinoo continued, "Yes. Additionally, we need to dig more reservoirs to collect rainwater during the wet season, ensuring enough water for farming and daily life in the dry season."
Siweite replied, "Your Majesty, that's a massive undertaking. Current technology also poses difficulties, so we can only work at it bit by bit with manual labor."
Constantinoo said, "No need to rush. It may take generations, but one day it can be done."
After surveying local agricultural development, they entered Dodoma's urban area.
It's much smaller than First Town, and its roads and buildings are more rudimentary, yet it still maintains the hallmark of East African cities—cleanliness and tidiness. Even though many streets remain gravel, they're quite level, and the drainage ditches on both sides are clear of leaves and branches, indicating they're regularly maintained.
Guderian explained, "Dodoma links Central Province, Mbeya, Kigoma, Mwanza, and Arusha, allowing for convenient transportation. Aside from the road to Arusha, which is still under construction, the roads to the other areas are in good condition."
Construction on the road between Dodoma and Arusha only began late last year, mainly due to the province seat of what used to be the northern part of Highland Province (Kilimanjaro Province) moving from Karatu to Arusha.
Constantinoo said, "As one of the main transportation hubs in the Tanganyika region, Dodoma is important. You in Highland Province must always keep your main roads open."
Guderian assured him, "Yes, Your Majesty. We send crews out every day to maintain the roads."
Constantinoo then visited a typical household in Dodoma. The city is a hub for trading agricultural products and various goods, so most of the population is employed in related work.
Farm products from Highland Province and the more inland Hohenzollern Province go through Dodoma for distribution, then on to Dar es Salaam for export.
To the north, Kilimanjaro Province uses Tanga Port. Farther north, most provinces rely on Mombasa Port. Along the shores of the Great Lakes, goods move by boat to Kisumu, then on to Nairobi, and finally ship out via Mombasa.
In the south—including Zambia and Zimbabwe—goods pass through Karonga in Southern Salzburg, then cross Lake Malawi into Lake Province, and use the Ruvuma River to reach Mtwara Port for export.
Thus, East Africa has numerous main trade routes, and many bypass Dodoma. That's why Dodoma is considered a transportation hub but not necessarily one of the most critical.
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