Tanzania is facing growing pressure to expand housing and urban infrastructure fast enough to keep pace with rapid population growth, with the government warning that poorly planned expansion could deepen shortages of affordable homes, basic services and resilient infrastructure.
Minister for Lands, Housing and Human Settlements Development Leonard Akwilapo said the government was reviewing its housing policy and prioritising land-use planning, secure tenure and settlement upgrading as cities expand.
He said the review of the National Human Settlements Development Policy of 2000 was necessary to ensure the country’s housing framework reflected current demographic, economic and climate realities.
“The government is continuing with the process of reviewing the National Human Settlements Development Policy of 2000 to respond to current needs,” Mr Akwilapo said during World Habitat Day commemorations in Dodoma on Monday.
He said the revised policy should guide the development of housing that is safe, resilient and affordable for people in both urban and rural areas.
The government’s approach includes making it easier for citizens to obtain title deeds, strengthening security of land tenure, improving land-use planning, formalising unplanned settlements and creating conditions for private developers and financial institutions to participate more actively in housing development.
The measures come as Tanzania’s cities continue to expand, increasing demand for residential land, roads, water, electricity, transport and other essential services.
Mr Akwilapo said the government was also moving ahead with the Sinza Housing Improvement Project, which has been identified as a priority urban redevelopment initiative.
He said the redevelopment would take into account the needs of existing residents and lessons from previous interventions in areas including Samora, Kariakoo and Buguruni in Dar es Salaam.
“The objective is to reorganise Sinza while taking into account the needs of residents and the experience gained from improvements undertaken in other areas of Dar es Salaam,” he said.
The Sinza project highlights the broader challenge facing Tanzania’s urban centres: how to accommodate more people and economic activity without pushing residents into poorly planned neighbourhoods or placing further strain on already stretched infrastructure.
Mr Akwilapo said investment in roads, water, electricity, markets and transport was essential if cities were to absorb population growth while remaining functional and resilient.
He also urged urban authorities to strengthen preparedness for heavy rains and flooding by improving land-use planning, protecting the environment and investing in infrastructure capable of withstanding climate-related risks.
“Adequate housing should enable a person to live safely and with dignity, raise a family in a stable environment and participate in economic activities,” he said.
Director of Human Settlements Development Deogratias Kalimenze said Tanzania’s rapid growth and urban expansion had increased demand for housing, planned land, infrastructure and basic services.
He said the scale of the challenge required closer cooperation between the government, private sector and development partners.
“Climate change has had a significant impact on communities, making it important to build housing that takes into account the ability to withstand these challenges,” Mr Kalimenze said.
His remarks point to a growing concern for urban planners: housing shortages cannot be addressed simply by increasing the number of houses without considering where they are built, access to services and their ability to withstand floods and other climate-related shocks.
UN-Habitat Tanzania Representative Grace Lubaale said adequate housing should be viewed as more than a roof over people’s heads.
She described decent housing as a foundation for dignity, health, security, economic opportunity and community development.
“Rapid urban growth is increasing demand for housing, land, basic services and infrastructure,” Dr Lubaale said, calling for authorities to plan urban expansion early, upgrade informal settlements and improve access to affordable land and services.
She said the government and UN-Habitat were working in areas including sustainable and electric transport, waste management, the circular economy, reducing plastic waste, housing access, land management and urban planning.
The partnership, she said, was intended to make urban growth a driver of jobs, investment, environmental protection and improved livelihoods.
Under a 2026-2030 strategy, Dr Lubaale said the government and UN-Habitat would seek to strengthen integrated urban development through affordable housing, improved land management, settlement upgrading, sustainable transport and greater use of data in planning.
She called for women, young people, communities, professionals and the private sector to play a greater role in shaping the country’s urban future.
The World Habitat Day commemorations were held under the theme “Adequate Housing for All,” highlighting the growing challenge of providing homes that are not only available but also affordable, properly located and connected to essential services.
For Tanzania, the challenge is increasingly about ensuring that the speed of urban growth does not outpace the country’s ability to provide decent housing and the infrastructure needed to support growing communities.