[PRESSWIRE] Dodoma, Tanzania – 2026-02-07 — 7 February, 2026
Tanzania is advancing steadily towards the construction phase of the Msimbazi River Basin flood-control project, with major contracts scheduled to be signed in February 2026 and full-scale works set to begin in May, the government said on Wednesday.
Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office Reuben Kwagilwa told parliament that the project will deliver critical infrastructure, including a 390-metre bridge at Jangwani under the supervision of TANROADS, alongside the construction of a modern Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) depot at Ubungo Maziwa.
He said preliminary works launched in May 2025 have reached 15 per cent completion, marking steady progress towards implementation of one of Tanzania’s most ambitious urban resilience initiatives.
The six-year project, which officially began in February 2023, is valued at more than 650 billion Tanzanian shillings and is designed to restore and stabilise the upper Msimbazi River Basin, while significantly reducing flood risks in the lower basin, particularly around Jangwani, an area that has long been affected by seasonal flooding.
The project involves deepening and widening the Msimbazi River, expanding the downstream floodplain, and reclaiming 57 hectares of land to create elevated, flood-safe zones for future residential and commercial development. These interventions are expected to improve urban planning, protect infrastructure and enhance environmental sustainability in Dar es Salaam.
Kwagilwa said the initiative reflects the government’s commitment to addressing the root causes of flooding, including unregulated land use and environmental degradation, while supporting orderly urban growth.
More than 3,000 households are affected by the project. Of the original 2,775 households identified, 2,602 have already received compensation and been relocated, demonstrating steady progress in the resettlement programme.
The remaining cases are pending due to family-related matters, while an additional 314 households identified after the start of works are undergoing assessment, the deputy minister said.
He emphasised that financing is fully secured, and that the project timeline reflects the scale and technical complexity required to ensure durable and climate-resilient outcomes.
Flood-control and river-basin restoration projects are increasingly central to urban development strategies across Africa and beyond. According to UN-Habitat and the World Bank, cities such as Dar es Salaam, Nairobi, Lagos and Accra are investing in integrated basin management to reduce climate risks while unlocking economic value from reclaimed urban land.
Tanzania’s Msimbazi project aligns with international best practice seen in the Netherlands’ “Room for the River” programme, China’s sponge city initiatives, and major river-restoration projects across South-East Asia, which combine engineered solutions with environmental rehabilitation and planned resettlement.
Officials say the Msimbazi project is expected to serve as a model for climate-resilient urban development in East Africa, reinforcing Dar es Salaam’s role as a regional economic hub while safeguarding communities, transport networks and public assets from recurring flood damage.
– The Msimbazi River Basin Development Project is a six-year urban resilience initiative launched in February 2023.
– The project is valued at more than 650 billion Tanzanian shillings and aims to reduce flooding risks in Dar es Salaam, particularly in the Jangwani area.
– Major contracts are scheduled to be signed in February 2026, with full construction works expected to begin in May 2026.
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