NHC completes Morocco square, revive projects
DODOMA: THE National Housing Corporation (NHC) has completed the Morocco Square project in Dar es Salaam, a flagship development that had been stalled for years, marking a significant step in its efforts to expand housing and commercial properties across the country.
The Minister for Lands, Housing and Human Settlements Development, Deogratius Ndejembi said in Parliament yesterday that the 137bn/- development had been halted since 2018 due to delays in securing a loan permit but the Sixth Phase Government intervened in 2023, authorising the NHC to borrow 174bn/- to revive Morocco Square and two other major projects in Dar es Salaam.
Presenting budget proposal of his ministry for the 2025/2026, the Minister said all 100 residential units at Morocco Square have since been sold and commercial and office spaces leased.
The Morocco Square project, encompassing 110,000 square metres of gross floor area, includes 47,793 square metres of office space, 24,924 square metres of residential units, 28,827 square metres of commercial space and an 8,456 square metre hotel.
Regarding other NHC projects, the minister said the corporation has constructed a total of 5,399 houses valued at 659.48bn/- for sale and rent during the Sixth Phase Government’s tenure.
Of these, 3,217 units are complete, with 2,182 still under construction and expected to be finished by June 2026, the minister said. Completed units include 852 for offices and businesses, 1,317 for mixed residential and business use and 1,048 exclusively for residential purposes.
Mr Ndejembi said government funding has also propelled other significant NHC initiatives. The 169bn/- Kawe 711 Project is 70 per cent complete and is slated for completion in the 2025/26 financial year.
Discussions are ongoing for the 71bn/- Golden Premier Residence Project in Kawe, with completion anticipated by June 2026, he said.
Moreover, the NHC launched the “Samia Housing Scheme” in 2023/24 to build 5,000 houses nationwide. As of May 15, 2025, 560 houses under this scheme have been built and sold in Kawe, Dar es Salaam, with a second phase of 908 houses under construction in Dodoma and Dar es Salaam.
The corporation is also undertaking commercial and residential construction projects in various regions, including Shinyanga, Mtwara, Moshi, Arusha, Tanga, Tabora, Lindi, Morogoro and Bukoba.
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The Kahama Business Building in Shinyanga is complete, while the Masasi Business Building in Mtwara and the Morogoro Business Building are 70 per cent complete, he said.
Mr Ndejembi said NHC has embraced public-private partnerships, revising its policy in November 2022 to encourage private sector involvement.
This has led to 21 joint venture projects valued at 351bn/- currently underway in Dar es Salaam, Mwanza and Iringa. He said over the past four years, the NHC has executed 67 contracting projects worth 458.2bn/- with 57 completed.
These include government office buildings in Mtumba, the Tanzanite International Market in Mirerani-Manyara and the Jakaya Kikwete Cardiac Institute (JKCI).
The NHC continues to pursue 22bn/- in outstanding debts, down from 27bn/-, through collaborations with the Ministry of Finance, the Treasury Registrar’s Office, and the Attorney General’s Office, he said.
The minister further said the corporation is also committed to renovating its housing portfolio, with 3,004 houses in 205 buildings already renovated and another 1,546 undergoing repairs, aiming to complete major renovations by 2026/27.
The Minister said for the 2025/26 financial year, the NHC plans to continue construction of 908 houses under the Samia Housing Scheme in Mtoni Kijichi and Kawe (Dar es Salaam), along with Medeli Phase III and Iyumbu (Dodoma).
It also plans to continue construction of 422 houses for the Kawe 711 project, expected to be completed by June 2026 and 196 houses for the Golden Premium Residence (GPR) project and Plot No. 300 Regent Estate, he said.
The corporation will continue oversight of 21 joint venture projects valued at 351bn/-, while inviting more private sector investors for commercial and residential developments under its Partnership Policy.
He said NHC further intends to continue construction of commercial buildings in various regions, including Meru View Shops (Arusha), Tabora Plaza (Tabora), Singida Plaza (Singida), Mkwakwani Plaza (Tanga), Kashozi Commercial Complex (Kagera), Uluguru Plaza (Morogoro), Iringa Commercial Complex (Iringa), Uhuru Shopping Centre Ilala (Dar es Salaam) and Mpwapwa Flats’ Shops (Dodoma).
New project construction will also commence in various towns and councils, including a mixed-use building in Ruvuma region and projects in Usa River and Ngarenaro in Arusha.
The NHC will also continue construction of nine warehouses for rent in Mtwara Municipality and continue and begin feasibility studies for urban centre development projects including Iwambi (Mbeya), Mwashiwawala (Songwe), Kwala (Pwani), Urafiki and Salama Creek (Dar es Salaam).
The corporation is also undertaking commercial and residential construction projects in various regions, including Shinyanga, Mtwara, Moshi, Arusha, Tanga, Tabora, Lindi, Morogoro and Bukoba.
The Kahama Business Building in Shinyanga is complete, while the Masasi Business Building in Mtwara and the Morogoro Business Building are 70 per cent complete.
