Tanzania weighs replanning and redeveloping Dar es Salaam to absorb growth to 2050
Written on
Dar es Salaam regional commissioner Albert Chalamila says the government has opened talks with the National Housing Corporation, the Tanzania Buildings Agency and NSSF on a framework for buying land from residents to replan and redevelop the city.
Tanzania's government is considering replanning and redeveloping Dar es Salaam to improve urban planning and accommodate a rapidly growing population, the city's regional commissioner said on Friday. Albert Chalamila said existing infrastructure and residential settlements would be inadequate to meet the city's projected population and development needs by 2050 unless deliberate measures were taken.
Speaking in Dar es Salaam on November 6, 2026, Chalamila said the government had started discussions with the National Housing Corporation (NHC), the Tanzania Buildings Agency (TBA) and the National Social Security Fund (NSSF) to establish a framework for acquiring land from residents to facilitate the proposed redevelopment. "We have started negotiations with NHC, TBA and NSSF so that we can establish procedures for purchasing land from residents. This will help us replan and redevelop the city," he said.
The initiative is intended to create room for more organised urban development, improve infrastructure provision and ensure future settlements meet the needs of the expanding city, according to The Citizen. Chalamila's remarks come amid mounting pressure on Dar es Salaam's infrastructure, housing and land resources as population growth and economic activity increase.
The commissioner also raised concerns about the establishment and management of religious institutions, including churches and mosques, saying they must follow proper procedures and comply with urban planning requirements. He said public awareness would be important, particularly to address residents' concerns about land ownership and the implications of redevelopment.
Land acquisition remains politically sensitive in Tanzania, given the interests of property owners, religious institutions and other stakeholders whose activities could be affected by changes in planning. No cost estimate, timetable or compensation formula has been announced, and the framework with the three state institutions is still being negotiated.