Kariakoo businessmen struggle as polls-related slowdown drags on

Stalls that once overflowed with customers now see long stretches of inactivity, with business owners saying trade has yet to rebound weeks after the polls.

Along Mafia and Swahili streets, motorcycle spare-parts dealer Maverick Daniel said business has been on a downward trajectory since the beginning of the election period.

Previously buoyed by cross-border customers from Zambia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Zimbabwe and Malawi, he now finds himself relying mostly on occasional walk-ins from within Dar es Salaam.

“I used to make up to Sh8 million per day, but nowadays even reaching Sh1 million is difficult,” he said.

He added that foreign traders—once the main drivers of bulk purchases in the area—have largely vanished.

On Agrey and Msimbazi streets, clothing trader Justin Massawe is experiencing similar difficulties. He said the absence of buyers from the DRC, Zambia, Uganda and other neighbouring markets has dealt a major blow to Kariakoo's revenue flow.

“Business has not picked up since we came out of the election period. Customers who normally buy in bulk haven’t returned,” Mr Massawe said.

“I used to get more than 15 customers from outside the country every week, but right now they are not coming at all. Even local wholesale buyers have reduced.”

The slowdown is not limited to traders alone. Porters and loaders—whose livelihoods depend on the movement of goods—are feeling the strain.

Porter and cargo packer Yasin Ngaile said the work that once kept him busy throughout the day has dwindled sharply.

“Usually, upcountry customers give me work to pack their goods and send them for transport, but now they have reduced a lot,” he explained.

He said most of his current clients are from within Dar es Salaam, whereas buyers from other regions have almost disappeared.

“I used to earn more than Sh50,000 a day, but now it’s hard to even make Sh20,000.”

According to the Chairman of the National Traders Association (JWT), Mr Hamis Livembe, the recovery of businesses that depend heavily on customers from other regions and neighbouring countries has been slow.

“People from upcountry have not come back, and transport operators who normally run eight buses are now sending out only two,” he said.

“Passenger numbers are still low, and because of this, even customers from Arusha and Mwanza coming to Dar es Salaam to buy goods have decreased.”

He added that in Kyela District, traders dealing in electronics, clothing, motorcycles, phone accessories and groceries are also recording reduced sales—an indication that the impact of the slowdown extends beyond Kariakoo.

Kariakoo Traders Association Chairman, Mr Severin Mushi, echoed the concerns, noting that although the environment remains calm, business activity has yet to recover.

“Business has not picked up at all. We are currently relying on customers from within the city. Those from other regions and outside the country are still weighing their options,” he said. Transport data also points to a sector still in transition.

The Director General of the Land Transport Regulatory Authority (Latra), Mr Habibu Suluo, recently reported that passenger numbers on upcountry routes have begun to rise, although they remain below pre-election levels.

“Up until Monday this week (November 10), the number of passengers travelling upcountry stood at 62,313,” he said.

“However, when the operation began on November 5, our system recorded around 34,000 passengers, whereas previously an average of 85,000 passengers booked electronic tickets for upcountry routes each day.”

For Kariakoo traders, the cautious return of passengers offers some hope—but many believe that it may take time for the confidence of regional buyers to fully return