Dar es Salaam Regional Commissioner in Tanzania, Albert Chalamila, has revealed that the government is considering introducing congestion charges for vehicles entering the central business district of Dar es Salaam as part of broader efforts to address the city’s growing traffic congestion.
Chalamila said the proposed measure could help regulate the number of vehicles entering the city centre unnecessarily, noting that the rapid increase in transport activities and poor traffic discipline have significantly contributed to daily gridlock across the commercial capital.
He made the remarks on May 25, 2026 during a visit to the headquarters of the Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) in Ilala, Dar es Salaam, where he congratulated the federation for recent achievements in Tanzanian football.
Among the achievements highlighted were the qualification of Tanzania’s Under-17 national team for the FIFA U-17 World Cup and the continued improvement of the NBC Premier League, which he described as one of the top-performing football leagues in Africa.
Speaking on the city’s transport challenges, Chalamila said major roads in Dar es Salaam are increasingly being shared by different forms of transport without proper regulation, worsening congestion in key areas of the city.
“Today, major roads are being used simultaneously by cars, motorcycles, bicycles, carts and even livestock. This situation is contributing heavily to traffic congestion, especially in the city centre,” Chalamila said.
Drawing comparisons with global cities such as London, he noted that some cities have successfully reduced traffic congestion by introducing charges for vehicles entering central urban areas, a model he believes could also work in Dar es Salaam.
He also raised concerns over parking management, saying the misuse of parking spaces by motorists who leave vehicles parked for extended periods without proper regulation is further contributing to congestion within the city.
