Dar es Salaam. President Samia Suluhu Hassan on Wednesday announced that her government will fully implement the recommendations of a committee currently set up to inspect the structural integrity of buildings in the Kariakoo area of Dar es Salaam.
The President made the comments during a visit to Kariakoo, following the tragic building collapse on Saturday, November 16, which has claimed the lives of 20 people so far.
While in Brazil for the G20 Leaders’ Summit in Rio de Janeiro, President Suluhu tasked Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa to oversee the formation of a team tasked with thoroughly inspecting all buildings in the Kariakoo to assess their structural integrity. assess the situation.
The President said the government’s priority is to ensure safety and compliance with building regulations in one of the busiest and most densely populated areas of Dar es Salaam.
“We will announce the team’s findings and recommendations. We will not hesitate to follow the recommendation to demolish substandard buildings if that were to be approved by the committee,” she said, promising to follow up on the recommendations that would be given.
The call for a detailed investigation into the building’s collapse and subsequent structural safety comes after analysts raised concerns about the government’s previous response to similar recommendations.
In 2013, she said two committees were working on the area and submitting their recommendations, indicating that the information collected would be useful in the new measures planned.
Previously, a committee was formed in 2006 following the collapse of the Chang’ombe Village Inn hotel in Keko, which killed one person and injured several others.
The study found that of the 505 buildings inspected, 147 lacked proper construction documentation.
Further alarming findings revealed that 81 buildings were in breach of building regulations, while 22 buildings were built without any traceable ownership, ignoring legal procedures.
The findings were documented, but little was done afterwards, leaving many to wonder whether the latest investigation into the Kariakoo incident will lead to substantive changes.
However, President Suluhu promised that her government would take decisive action following the ongoing inspections.
“The collapse of the building has sent a clear message to the government on the need for a comprehensive assessment of the structural integrity of all buildings in Kariakoo,” she said, pointing to the poor management and cost-cutting measures that led to the disaster .
She explained that the building in question had been built with minimal financial investment, without adequate analysis of the potential risks, which ultimately led to its collapse.
“To prevent such incidents in the future, we have already formed a team of 20 experts who are working hard to ensure that the buildings in Kariakoo are built according to standards and that such accidents do not happen again,” President Suluhu added to it.
The tragedy, she said, shows shortcomings at multiple levels of government, from central and local governments to regional authorities, saying it is imperative that all stakeholders – government agencies, civil society and the public – work together to prevent a repeat of prevent such incidents. .
The President called for strict compliance with construction standards and increased supervision during project implementation to ensure public safety. She noted that although permits were issued, quality control was neglected during construction, leading to the catastrophe.
Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa provided an update on the ongoing rescue and recovery operations at the site. He announced plans to move traders’ merchandise from the collapsed building to a secure warehouse while searches continue for any remaining victims.
He commended the community for its cooperation during the rescue operations. “It is encouraging to see that no looting took place during the rescue efforts. Instead, community members actively participated, demonstrating a growing awareness of the importance of collective action in emergency situations,” he said.
The Kariakoo building collapse is one of the most devastating construction-related incidents in Tanzania’s recent history, and has led to widespread calls for reforms in urban planning, construction supervision and governance accountability.
As investigations continue, authorities have vowed to enforce stricter building regulations and ensure greater vigilance in the sector. The government’s response will be closely watched as the nation demands justice for the victims and preventive measures to prevent future tragedies.