Tanzania designates 10 wards for port activities amid congestion concerns

Temeke is preparing 10 wards for port-related activities as improved operations at Dar es Salaam Port drive a rapid expansion in economic activity around the facility. The plan has already drawn opposition from ACT-Wazalendo, which fears residents could lose their settlements to dry-port operations.

Temeke District Commissioner Sixtus Mapunda said the port reached capacity that had been expected by 2030 in June this year. He said surrounding areas must now be strategically prepared so growing cargo flows do not overwhelm the port itself.

The proposed wards are Keko, Azimio, Buza, Sandari, Kilakala, Mtoni, Makangarawe, Temeke, Miburani and Yombo Vituka. Mapunda said about half of the cargo leaving Dar es Salaam Port goes abroad, while the rest stays in Tanzania. Of the domestic cargo, he said 90 percent is used in Dar es Salaam and only 10 percent moves to other regions.

“

70 percent of the cargo remaining in Dar es Salaam remains in Temeke, thus Temeke forms an economic hub. All cargo originates from Temeke, so Temeke is friendly towards the port economy. That is why Temeke Municipality is unavoidable in council land use planning.

“70 percent of the cargo remaining in Dar es Salaam remains in Temeke, thus Temeke forms an economic hub. All cargo originates from Temeke, so Temeke is friendly towards the port economy. That is why Temeke Municipality is unavoidable in council land use planning,” Mapunda said.

ACT-Wazalendo’s Dar es Salaam regional secretary, Felix Kamugisha, said the government should use Kwala Dry Port in the Coast Region rather than turn residential areas in Temeke into port hubs. The party said Kwala was already prepared to ease congestion and called for more dry ports to be moved out of the city centre.

Mapunda said the debate should consider transport costs and benefits for traders and final consumers, not just distance. “There are costs involved in going to Kwala. The government must look at reducing costs for the final consumer by ensuring cargo purchasing costs remain low, rather than taking cargo far away. We would be foolish to allow this 70 percent of cargo to go to Kwala or Morogoro only to return to Temeke to build factories,” he said. Tanzania Ports Authority has been clarifying that Kwala Dry Port is intended to reduce cargo congestion in Dar es Salaam.

“

There are costs involved in going to Kwala. The government must look at reducing costs for the final consumer by ensuring cargo purchasing costs remain low, rather than taking cargo far away. We would be foolish to allow this 70 percent of cargo to go to Kwala or Morogoro only to return to Temeke to build factories.