The Minister warns that settlements along Dar es Salaam’s flood-prone Msimbazi River remain vulnerable, while poor waste disposal continues to undermine drainage and increase the city’s exposure to flooding.
By Business Insider Reporter
Tanzania has urged residents living in high-risk areas along the Msimbazi River to relocate, as authorities step up efforts to protect lives, property and economic activity from flooding in the country’s commercial capital.
Minister of State in the Vice-President’s Office responsible for Union and Environment, Hamad Yussuf Masauni, said people living close to the river should consider moving to safer areas because their current settlements expose them and their property to serious risks.
He said the threat had become particularly important in light of forecasts indicating the possibility of El Niño conditions, which could increase the risk associated with heavy rainfall.
“Their lives are clearly at risk. I would like to continue urging all people living in areas such as these – not only in Dar es Salaam but across the country – to take precautions,” Masauni said during a working visit to the city.
“I particularly urge everyone to listen to the advice of experts during this period on how to live in these areas or, where possible, relocate and find alternative accommodation.”
The warning highlights a persistent challenge for Dar es Salaam, where flooding can disrupt transport, businesses and other economic activities while damaging homes and infrastructure.
Waste adds to drainage challenge
Masauni said the government had made significant efforts to address waste accumulation in rivers and drainage channels, but some residents continued to dispose of rubbish in waterways.
Poor solid-waste management can reduce the capacity of drainage systems to carry stormwater, increasing the risk of flooding during periods of intense rainfall.
The minister called on leaders at all levels to enforce government directives on cleanliness and ensure that communities take greater responsibility for keeping urban areas clean.
For businesses, effective drainage and waste management are particularly important because flooding can interrupt access to commercial areas, damage stock and property and increase the cost of maintaining urban infrastructure.
Ilala District Commissioner Edward Mpogolo said the government would continue working with communities to ensure drains and waterways remain clear and capable of carrying water efficiently during the rainy season.
He said the council would also continue involving the private sector in waste-management services, pointing to efforts to strengthen operations at the Pugu Kinyamwezi dumpsite, which has received a new excavator to improve waste handling.
The government’s latest warning reinforces the growing need to combine enforcement, improved waste management and safer urban settlement as Dar es Salaam seeks to reduce its vulnerability to flooding. For the rapidly expanding commercial city, the challenge goes beyond environmental management: repeated flooding poses risks to productivity, infrastructure investment, businesses and household assets, making urban resilience increasingly important to Dar es Salaam’s long-term economic competitiveness.
