MWANZA: THE government has directed urban planning professionals across the country to ensure that cities are properly planned and made competitive for business, tourism and environmental sustainability.
This will enable the cities to withstand the impacts of climate change and become safe, attractive places to live and work.
The directive was issued on Sunday in Mwanza by the Deputy Minister for Lands, Housing and Human Settlements Development, Mr Kaspar Mmuya, while officiating the 10th Annual General Meeting of the Town Planners Registration Board.
Mr Mmuya said the goal can be achieved through various approaches, including strengthening and formalising land markets and improving urban planning systems.
“Proper urban planning will enhance the economic growth of cities, especially Dar es Salaam, which is the hub of the country’s economic development,” he said.
He added that strengthening land administration, land management and property ownership systems would open up land markets and support orderly urban growth.
The deputy minister urged urban planning professionals to ensure early identification and timely investment in essential social infrastructure, including roads, electricity and water, to support basic services, housing development, industrial expansion, urban tourism and investment attraction.
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However, Mr Mmuya expressed concern over the growing encroachment of open spaces, public land and hazardous areas, which are increasingly being converted to other uses, particularly residential developments. He stressed that such areas should instead be surveyed, legally protected and secured from encroachers.
“I instruct all Local Government Authorities to survey, protect and manage all public and open spaces in order to eliminate the negative trend of continued encroachment,” he said.
He added that for Tanzania to realise its vision of smart cities, urban planners must ensure that residential areas, industrial zones, tourism sites and public spaces are well-connected through improved road infrastructure to enhance accessibility.
“Cities must be properly planned to strengthen linkages between urban and rural areas, thereby enhancing trade and transportation,” he said.
Mr Mmuya also noted that the government will continue strengthening institutional coordination to improve urban development and mobilise financial resources for planning and managing cities.
On her part, Registrar of the Town Planners Registration Board. Ms Martha Mkupasi said the meeting brought together registered and unregistered urban planners to discuss challenges facing the profession and urban development, as well as learn from developed countries’ experiences in building sustainable cities.
She added that experts from China were participating in the meeting and would present two papers to share China’s experiences and broaden participants’ professional knowledge. Ms Mkupasi said the board has so far registered 635 private professionals and 119 urban planning firms.
“Additionally, the board has conducted ten Continuous Professional Development (CPD) trainings since 2009 and in 2023 it expanded the scope of registration through amendments to the Urban Planners Registration Act,” she said.
She added that the board has transitioned from analogue to digital operations by introducing its own electronic payment system.
She further noted that the board continues to recruit staff, with 24 out of the required 59 employees already hired and that it has established a billing system that has improved revenue collection and sealed loopholes for fraud.
Representative of the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Lands and Human Settlements Development, Mr Deogratias Kalimenze, said the ministry oversees international relations under the urban planning sector, including engagement with UN-Habitat.
He said the ministry is directly responsible for ensuring the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
“We are now in the phase of taking action and we are aware that the deadline for achieving these goals is 2030,” he said.