KILIMANJARO: TRADERS in Kilimanjaro region experienced a surge in business during the recent Christmas and New Year festivities, driven by high demand for building materials.
The rush to complete construction projects before the holidays resulted in increased sales and higher prices for key finishing materials such as floor tiles, paints, electric cables, aluminum windows, wall putty and cement.
This surge also significantly impacted the construction workforce, with a sharp increase in demand for local masons and other skilled labourers.
This created uncertainty among builders regarding their ability to meet Christmas deadlines. ‘Daily News’ spot survey recently held in Moshi Municipality showed many construction material stores in the municipality responded by hiring extra manpower and extending their working hours to meet the growing demand.
Ms Grace Massawe, a seller of plumbing materials in Moshi, happily shared that her sales for December were significantly higher than in all previous months.
“My sales this month are equivalent to what I usually sell over four months.
Many people are either building new homes or renovating and want to move in by Christmas,” said Ms Massawe, adding that the rush to complete construction before the holidays was overwhelming.
The spike in demand attracted people not only from within the municipality but also from neighbouring districts, such as Hai, Moshi Rural, Rombo, Siha, even as far as Mwanga, where people rushed to finish their projects before the end year holidays.
A local mason, Alfred Mushi nicknamed ‘engineer’ noted that construction sites were bustling with activity, with carpenters, plumbers and electricians in high demand.
“Some workers, particularly those specialised in tiling, plastering and bricklaying were even travelling between different districts/ villages to take advantage of the abundant work opportunities,” he said.
Mr Mushi stated that they typically charge between 3,000/- and 5,000/- for laying tiles per square metre, however, during the festive season, they increased the rate to 10,000/-, depending on the client’s urgency.
And, for constructing one cement block the costs went up by almost four times from 200/- to between 600/- and 800/-.
Mr Mushi said the increased demand also led to some logistical challenges, such as a shortage of cargo trucks and delivery takes longer than usual period.
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The hiring costs from Moshi central business district to Njia Panda Himo about 26km surged by up to 90 per cent from 40,000/- to between 65,000/- and 75,000/- per trip. And from CBD to Uru Seminary, just after KCMC Hospital, via Sokoine Road increased from 35,000/- to 45,000/-.
Also, the ‘Daily News’ spot survey showed that the price of a bag of cement went up from 15,500/- to 17,500/- , a box of 40X40 locally made tiles from 28,000/- to 33,000/- and 50X50 tiles from 40,000/- to 47,000/-.
Mr Revocatus Paschal, a Moshi-based Mwenge Catholic University (MWECAU) third-year student, said that he uses the short December holiday to do construction work (casual labour), such as skimming and plastering, among other tasks.
He said earned between 25,000/- and 40,000/- per day depending on the type of work whether it is tiles laying or bricklaying.
Kiba Lyimo, a plumber, from Kimanganuni Village in Moshi Rural said that he got three construction sites at once and had to hire labourers to help. “It was the peak time. T
he contract of those three works was discussed and sealed last November. The intensity of work forced me to hire an extra hand.
“The good thing is that two of the sites are in the same village where I live at Kimanganuni, [Moshi Rural] while the third was in Singida, which was a two-day job.
I travelled at night, work for two days, and then returned,” said Lyimo who is on his late twenties. Joyce Komu, a fruit vendor and mother of three from Okaseni Village in Moshi Rural, found a way to supplement her income by capitalising on the nearby construction sites.
She began selling meals to the workers, offering affordable food with prices ranging from 1,500/- to 2,000/- per plate.
