RC Chalamila directs Kinondoni District to prioritize high-impact investments

DAR ES SALAAM: Dar es Salaam Regional Commissioner Albert Chalamila has directed Kinondoni Municipal Council to abandon the practice of spreading funds across many small projects with limited impact and instead focus on fewer strategic investments capable of generating significant revenue, creating jobs and transforming the district’s economy.

Speaking during a Kinondoni Municipal Council meeting today, Chalamila said the municipality has the potential to become a major economic hub if it prioritises high-impact investments rather than dispersing resources across multiple low-return projects.

He noted that while the council has made progress in revenue collection, it must now shift towards projects that generate sustainable income and strengthen Kinondoni’s competitiveness within the wider Dar es Salaam economy.

Dar es Salaam Regional Administrative Secretary Abdul Mhinte emphasized the importance of proper land use management, saying land should be treated as a key development resource rather than a source of conflict. He warned that disputes over land slow down productivity and hinder citizens’ participation in economic activities.

Kinondoni District Commissioner noted that the council’s achievements have been driven by strong cooperation among councillors, technical staff, the mayor’s office, the municipal director and security agencies.

He said this teamwork has helped reduce audit queries from 73 to 40 over the past five years, while revenue collection has reached over 90 percent of the 89bn/- target in the previous financial year.

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He added that improvements have also been recorded in education, health, road infrastructure and the provision of 10 percent loans to special groups. However, he pointed out that the absence of a waste processing plant remains a major challenge, limiting opportunities to convert waste into fertiliser, energy and other valuable products.

The DC further called for a shift in budget planning to prioritise a small number of large-scale strategic projects that can unlock employment opportunities, stimulate economic growth and enhance long-term municipal revenue.

Leaders also said a recent study tour to Ethiopia had provided new insights into urban development, pledging to implement lessons learned to improve urban planning, cleanliness, the city’s appearance and delivery of high-impact development projects.