Author: user user

In all these plans, promulgations, edicts and orders, one may be excused for believing that Dar es Salaam, the largest City in Tanzania, has no local government structure. Yet, as we all know, there are five local government authorities in the City: four municipal councils and one city council.

The importance of Dar es Salaam to the economic and social development of the country cannot be overstated. Dar es Salaam is the commercial capital, largest business hub, and primary economic engine of Tanzania. The city generates roughly 70% to 89% of Tanzania’s national tax collections, vastly outperforming any other region in the country; and accounts for an estimated 15 percent to 20 percent of Tanzania’s total Gross Domestic Product.

The Dar es Salaam Port handles roughly 90 percent of Tanzania’s international trade and serves as a vital trade lifeline and import-export route for landlocked neighbors, including Zambia, Rwanda, Burundi, Uganda, Malawi, and the eastern and southern part of the DRC.

The city generates over half of the nation’s total value in manufactured goods and holds nearly half of Tanzania’s industrial employment. It hosts a large, concentrated labor force driving dynamic service sectors like transport, education, health, tourism arrival, telecommunications, commerce; and has a large and dynamic ‘informal sector’.

In terms of local revenue generation, in the 2023/24 period, Dar es Salaam’s five municipal councils raised Sh245.8 billion in own-source local revenues; and regionally, Dar es Salaam leads local government own-source collections, accounting for about 21.6 percent of the national total for local authorities, closely matched by the Lake zones at 20.7 percent. With such a glittering ‘CV’, Dar es Salaam is not expected to have a governance deficit. Yet, because of the city’s importance, there may be a temptation to keep a close eye on city activities lest, it feels so much autonomous. That would be unfair, for Dar has a long history of local governance going back to the 1880s.

At the end of the German era, Dar es Salaam and Tanga had a Municipal status under the 1910 order of the Imperial Chancellor which created Municipal Councils in German East Africa.

Come the British era, under the Township Ordinance of 1920, Dar es Salaam was declared a Township Authority and its first Director was Dr R.R. Scott. The Authority was vested with the management of a Township.

In 1946, the Municipalities Ordinance (Cap 105) was passed and Dar es Salaam became a Municipality in 1949. In 1953, a Local Government Ordinance was passed creating municipal, town and district councils. Dar es Salaam continued to enjoy its municipal status, even after the amendment of the Local Government Ordinance in 1962. Indeed, Dar es Salaam obtained city status in 1961, as part of the independence celebrations.

In 1972/73 rural and urban local authorities were abolished, but Dar es Salaam was the first to get back some authority under the Urban Councils (Interim Provisions) Act of 1978.

Dar es Salaam got back its full local government authority in 1984. However, the council was abolished in 1996, and replaced by a Commission, largely as part of reforming local governments.

When local government over Dar es Salaam was re-introduced in 2000, the city was divided into three municipal authorities (these have since grown into five) and an overall City Council. The Local Government (Urban Authorities) Act was amended to accommodate a situation where a local government authority would operate in an area where there are other local government authorities.

While the arrangement worked well, the Dar es Salaam City Council was dissolved on 24 February 2021, and was absorbed into the Ilala Municipal Council which was elevated to city status.

A city, the size and importance of Dar es Salaam, needs an overall Metropolitan Authority, which will see the city in its totality, coordinate its plans and programmes and address crosscutting issues.

It would be made up by representatives from the five local government authorities of Ilala, Temeke, Kinondoni, Ubungo and Kigamboni, and would be the overall authority planning and speaking on behalf of the whole city.

Experience could be borrowed from, among others, the South Africa Metropolitan Municipalities and the Ghanaian Metropolitan Assemblies.

Women, youth, older people and persons with disabilities have been urged to take advantage of the government’s 30 percent public procurement allocation, with authorities warning that inadequate preparedness and limited awareness of procurement rights could prevent eligible groups from benefiting.

The call was made on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, by Lindi Municipal Council acting head of community development, Ms Alusaria Mushi, who represented Regional Commissioner Adam Malima.

Ms Mushi was speaking during a conference on industry, investment, technology and innovation for special groups from the Southern Zone. In a statement shared with The Citizen, Ms Mushi said the government had created opportunities for special groups to participate in public procurement, but urged beneficiaries to be better prepared to compete for tenders.

‘The laws and regulations allow individuals or groups of persons with special needs to access loans under the special groups category,’ she said.

Under Regulation 35(1) of the Public Procurement Regulations, 2025, procuring entities are required to grant an exclusive 30 percent preference in their annual procurement of goods, works and services to eligible special groups within their locality.

The provision covers youth, women, older people and persons with disabilities, creating a dedicated opportunity for these groups to participate in government procurement.

Ms Mushi also called on the Public Procurement Appeals Authority (PPAA) to increase awareness among women, youth, older people and persons with disabilities about their rights during public procurement processes.

Speaking at the conference, PPAA head of appeals management, Ms Violet Limilabo, representing the authority’s executive secretary James Sando, said the authority was continuing to educate tenderers about their rights and responsibilities.

She said digital systems had also simplified the process of lodging procurement complaints and appeals.

‘Currently, PPAA receives and handles complaints and appeals through the Complaints and Appeals Management Module in the National e-Procurement System of Tanzania (NeST),’ said Ms Limilabo.

According to her, the digital system has helped reduce the time and costs associated with complaints and appeals while improving transparency, accountability and record-keeping.

Same District Hospital in Kilimanjaro Region has received maternity equipment and supplies from Yas Tanzania to strengthen care for expectant mothers.

The support, provided through the telecommunications company’s Tumaini Campaign, includes delivery beds, wheelchairs, bedsheets, khangas, aprons and maternity kits for mothers and healthcare workers.

Speaking during the handover, Yas Northern Zone Director Henry Kinabo said the initiative was part of the company’s commitment to supporting communities alongside its investment in telecommunications services’As we continue to invest in communication services, we also want to make a difference in the communities we serve. Through the Tumaini Campaign, our aim is to support expectant mothers and help improve the care they receive during childbirth,’ he said.

Mr Kinabo said some of the donated items were contributed by Yas employees through the Tumaini Campaign, while others were provided under the company’s corporate social responsibility programme.

Acting Nurse-in-Charge at Same District Hospital Endutuja Mbwambo said the support would help to address shortages at the facility, where maternity equipment and supplies are in constant demand due to the high number of deliveries.

‘We receive around 270 to 300 women for delivery every month, so the need for these supplies remains high. This support will help us provide better maternity care and address some of the shortages we face,’ she said.

.