The recently concluded World Bank Land Conference (LC2025) (from 5 to 8 May 2025) was a fabulous chance to meet consultants and officials who have, in one way or the other, worked on Tanzania’s land and urban development problems.
One fact that became obvious is that there have been many donor-supported projects, but these were just that: projects. They came, and when their time was up, they went and were literally forgotten.
At this Conference, I met consultants and officials who worked on the SPILL Project in the late 1990s, early 2000s.
It may be difficult to find, in government, people who remember what SPILL was. It stands for “Strategic Plan for the Implementation of Land Laws”.
SPILL I was implemented and gave us, inter alia, the Land Act, Village Land Act and the Courts (Land Disputes Resolution) Act. SPILL II was not implemented.
Consultants and officials who worked on the Land Tenure Support Project (LTSP) (2016-2019) were also present.
The project was supposed to ensure land titling in three districts of Kilombero, Ulanga and Malinyi, for the purpose of improving transparency and efficiency in land administration.
The Project closed shop and nobody talks about it anymore. This had been implemented hand in hand with the Land Tenure Assistance Programme (LTA) (2015-2019) which was part of a larger ‘Feed the Future’ initiative.
LTA goals were ‘to clarify and document land ownership, support local land use planning efforts, and increase local understanding of land use and land rights in Tanzania’. You do not hear reference to the LTA Programme in ministerial circles, any more.
The current land tenure-related programme going on in Tanzania is the Land Tenure Improvement Project (LTIP). We have heard much about it in the media in the past 5 years.
Officials and Consultants related to the LTIP were there in full force at the World Bank Land Conference.
The Project was approved in 2021 with the World Bank committing US$ 150 million to continue property rights formalization.
The project’s objective is ‘to strengthen the national land administration system and increase tenure security in selected areas for both men and women’ and specifically to ‘scale up the direct implementation of rural mass certification and issuance of CCROs in select areas of the country’.
There was a sombre mood with regard to the LTIP since it is being cut short (no idea why). It was supposed to run from 2021 to 2027 It is however ending in June this year (2025).
In recent times the Project has been shown as the flag carrier for the envisaged improvements in the Land Sector.
Now that it is ending, it will be archived and may be succeeded by another one, who knows? One official was confident that Tanzania will find resources to keep the Project running.
On the urban scene projects that have come and gone include the Sites and Services and Squatter Upgrading Projects of the late 1970s. early 1980s; and the Sustainable Dar es Salaam Project (SDP) (1992-2003), which was part of a larger global UN-Habitat initiative, aiming to demonstrate the feasibility of integrating environmental planning into urban development.
A decade and half after the SDP came the (current) Dar es Salaam Metropolitan Development Project (DMDP) which aims to improve connectivity and mobility within the city while reducing flooding through structural and non-structural measures.
Phase I was launched in 2017, and Phase II in 2024. One of its visible achievements is the connecting infrastructure and drains that have been constructed in many parts of the city of Dar es Salaam.
DMDP officials were there at the World Bank Land Conference. What will come after DMDP? Time will tell.
In between SDP and DMDP came the Community Infrastructure Upgrading Project (CIUP) which had an implementation period from 2005 to 2012.
This project focused on upgrading infrastructure and services in urban areas, including roads, footpaths, drainage, sanitation, solid waste, and streetlights. Nobody talks about it anymore.
A good number of these projects come in the form of piloting, and it is always hoped that scaling will be undertaken. This is rarely the case.
The list of donor funded projects on land and urban development that have come and gone is quite long.
Where the projects involve capital assets building, such as construction of roads, drains and infrastructure networks, there is something to look back to once the project has come to an end.
In some cases, however, projects involve “software” such as capacity building. Such projects get easily forgotten.
It is recommended that donor support should go to projects that the recipient country has planned or is implementing. That way, support will be part of sustainability of what is going on.
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Tanzania: Exim to Raise Fund for Mental Health Facilities Upgrades
EXIM Bank to raise 300m/- over the next three years for financing essential services and infrastructure upgrades in mental health facilities.
The bank’s Head of Marketing and Communications Stanley Kafu unveiled this when introducing Exim Bima Festival 2024 as a platform for bringing together individuals, organisations and various sectors for raising the funds.
“Exim’s initiative aligns with the government’s broader goals to ensure that every citizen has access to quality healthcare, including mental health services,” he said.
The initiative, which is one of the events for celebrating the bank’s 27th anniversary is scheduled for Wednesday this week in Dar es Salaam.
Mr Kafu highlights that this year’s festival is not only about raising awareness of the importance of insurance in the society but also focuses on enhancing access to mental health services and improving the overall well-being of the nation.
Statistics from the Ministry of Health shows a staggering 82 per cent increase in mental health cases over the past decade.
Mental cases have risen from 386,358 in 2012 to 2,102,726 in 2021, making the need for mental health services more urgent than ever.
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Unfortunately, the country’s ability to address this growing challenge is hindered by a shortage of mental health professionals, infrastructure, medical equipment and essential medication.
For example, out of the 28 regions in the country, only five have facilities that provide adequate mental health services.
The most affected group is the youth aged 15 to 39, who represent the nation’s workforce, underscoring the need for intensified efforts to safeguard this generation for Tanzania’s future well-being and development.
Mr Kafu said by improving mental health services, Exim aims to contribute to the creation of a network of communities that can access care quickly and affordably.
Exim Insurance Department Manager Tike Mwakyoma said they are appreciating the support from partners in the insurance industry, who have stood by them since the last festival.
“Let’s continue this unity for the development of all Tanzanians and our nation as a whole,” the manager said.
Source: allafrica.com
CCM ready to task state organs on Zanzibar Airport deal
Ruling party Chama Cha Mapinduzi-Zanzibar has said it is ready to task state organs to investigate some of the claims against its government that have been raised by opposition politicians on the Abeid Amani Karume International Airport (AAKIA).Continue Reading
Tanzania’s opposition party ACT Wazalendo honours veteran politician under new policy
Unguja. Opposition party ACT Wazalendo today officially bids farewell to its former Chairman, Juma Duni Haji, also known as Babu Duni, as part of a new policy designed to honor retired senior leaders at a ceremony held at Kiembesamaki, Zanzibar.
The initiative highlights the party’s commitment to recognizing and supporting individuals who have served with dedication and integrity.
Babu Duni, who stepped down earlier this year, was succeeded by Othman Masoud, now the First Vice President of Zanzibar.
The policy aims to provide ongoing respect and support to retired leaders, ensuring their continued recognition and contribution to the party’s development.
“Recognizing their significant contributions to the development and prosperity of the party, this policy ensures that retired leaders continue to be acknowledged and respected by both the party and the community,” the policy states.
To benefit from this policy, leaders must not have left or been expelled from the party. They must have served the party with honor and dedication. The national leadership committee will determine whether a leader has fulfilled these criteria.
The policy seeks to honor retired leaders, protect their dignity, acknowledge their contributions, leverage their ideas for the party’s growth, and support them to the best of the party’s ability.
In honoring these leaders, the party will provide a vehicle, the type of which will be determined by the national leadership committee. Additionally, they will receive a monthly allowance, with the amount also set by this committee.
Other benefits include health insurance. If a leader does not own a home, the party will cover their rent at a rate decided by the committee.
The leadership committee may also grant special recognition based on the leader’s contributions. Retired leaders will participate in decision-making meetings according to procedures outlined in the party’s constitution.
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Additionally, leaders, executives, or members with exceptional contributions to the party’s protection, advocacy, and defense may also benefit, as determined by the leadership committee.
Currently, those who are eligible for benefits under this policy include Juma Duni Haji (retired party Chairman) and Zitto Kabwe (retired party leader).Continue Reading
