Tanzanian embarks on expansion plan For its  peri-urban areas in the  fast growing cities

BAKU: THE Tanzanian government said it has prioritized rapid expansion planning for peri-urban areas as part of efforts to address challenges arising from the fast growth of towns and cities across the country.

The Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office responsible for Regional Administration and Local Government (PMO-RALG), Riziki Shemdoe revealed this when participating in an urban development dialogue in Azerbaijan, held as part of an international conference on urbanisation.

The minister made the statement after being asked about Tanzania’s preparedness for rapid urban growth and its associated challenges, including unemployment where he revealed that the government is continuing with early preparations for the expansion of cities and municipalities into surrounding areas to ensure urban growth remains sustainable, organised and well managed.

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According to Prof Shemdoe, major cities including Dar es Salaam, Dodoma, Mwanza, Mbeya and Arusha are expanding rapidly, noting that without proper planning, challenges such as informal settlements, unemployment and inadequate social services could intensify.

He noted that unplanned urban expansion often results in huge costs for rehabilitating infrastructure such as water supply systems, electricity and sanitation services, costs that can be minimised through timely and strategic planning.

Furthermore, he stressed that proactive urban planning is essential in supporting economic growth, improving living standards and ensuring cities remain resilient and capable of accommodating increasing populations sustainably.