Govt: Msimbazi basin project gathers pace
DODOMA: THE government has said the contract for the construction of the Msimbazi River Basin Project is expected to be signed in February 2026, with full-scale works scheduled to begin in May 2026.
Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office (Regional Administration and Local Government), Mr Reuben Kwagilwa, told the National Assembly yesterday that the project includes the construction of a new 390-metre bridge at Jangwani under the supervision of TANROADS.
He said preliminary works, which began in May 2025, have reached 15 per cent completion. Mr Kwagilwa added that the project will also involve the construction of a new Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) depot at Ubungo Maziwa, with the contract likewise expected to be signed in February 2026.
According to him, the broader objective of the project is to restore and stabilise the upper Msimbazi Basin, regulate human activities and curb land degradation that contributes to destructive flooding in the lower basin.
He said the Msimbazi River Basin Project is specifically designed to reduce the impact of floods at Jangwani while improving urban planning and land use in the lower basin.
The Deputy Minister was responding to Kinondoni Member of Parliament, Mr Tarimba Abbas (CCM), who sought clarification on the commencement and completion timeline of the project. He explained that implementation of the project officially began in February 2023 and is scheduled to run for six years.
The project involves the relocation of more than 3,000 households, of which 2,500 have already been compensated and relocated. He further said the project will involve deepening and widening of the Msimbazi River, as well as expanding the downstream floodplain.
Soil excavated from the river will be used to create elevated and safe zones for residential and commercial use, with a total of 57 hectares expected to be reclaimed. In his supplementary question, Mr Abbas expressed concern over the extended timeline of the project, noting that residents continue to experience frequent flooding.
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He asked whether the government could revise the implementation schedule to expedite completion. In response, Mr Kwagilwa said the project is extensive and valued at more than 650bn/-, a scale that requires adequate time for proper implementation.
He stressed that financing is not a challenge, but rather the technical and procedural requirements necessary to ensure long-term resilience.
He said initial works will focus on deepening the river, reconstructing and strengthening riverbanks, expanding the floodplain and preparing the 57-hectare safe zone for future residential and commercial development.
The MP also sought clarification on the compensation of the remaining affected households. Mr Kwagilwa said the original assessment identified 2,775 affected households, but subsequent evaluations conducted after the commencement of works identified an additional 314 households that were not included in the initial plan.
“Out of the original 2,775 households, compensation has been paid to 2,602. The remaining cases are pending due to unique family-related complications, not because of lack of government funds,” he said.
