Powerful owners linked to use of unfinished buildings in Kariakoo
Construction continues on an unfinished multi-storey building while traders carry on with their daily activities beneath it along Tandamti Street in Kariakoo, Dar es Salaam. PHOTO I MICHAEL MATEMANGA
Dar es Salaam. The Powerful interests and politically connected property owners are complicating enforcement of construction safety regulations in Kariakoo, allowing unfinished buildings to remain in use by merchants and exposing occupants and passers-by to significant safety risks.
A three-month investigation conducted by The Citizen’s sister publication, Mwananchi, between December 2025 and February 2026, reveals that the challenge is not primarily the absence of laws or oversight systems.
