Experts welcome Kariakoo inspection team, but…

The decision follows Saturday’s collapse of a four-storey building in Kariakoo that killed at least 16 people and injured dozens others, according to an update issued on Monday evening.

“Following this tragic event, I’m directing the Prime Minister to ensure that a team of building inspectors is set up to conduct a thorough inspection of all commercial buildings in Kariakoo so that we can get an accurate picture of their structural integrity,” the Head of State said.

She added that police would seek details of the construction of the collapsed building from its owner as part of investigations into the incident whose findings will be made public. Further action to be taken by the government will be based on the findings.

Step in the right direction

Several experts on Monday described the decision as a step in the right direction. They, however, said the government should go beyond just appointing probe teams and actually implement what they recommend.

 “I understand why the President wants a committee formed as a matter of urgency to investigate the incident. By doing so, she is showing accountability and leadership as the Head of State and the nation’s Comforter-in-Chief. However, the directive should have a meaningful impact as far as addressing the long-standing problem of buildings collapsing in Kariakoo is concerned,” said Vijay Contractors managing director Joseph Magida, who is also an architect.

He said a similar committee was appointed in 2006 after a commercial building collapsed in Keko, Dar es Salaam, but despite coming up with damning findings about the state of commercial structures in the city, the team’s recommendations were never implemented.

The committee, appointed by the then Prime Minister, Edward Lowassa, established that 147 of the 505 buildings that were inspected lacked proper construction documentation.

Lowassa’s successor, Mr Mizengo Pinda, told Parliament in 2008 that the committee also discovered that regulations were violated in the construction of 81 buildings, while the owners of 22 structures could not be traced.

Mr Magida said although the Lowassa-appointed committee established that over 100 buildings were a serious safety hazard, the government only imposed fines on their owners and that was the end of the matter.

“The Kariakoo issue needs to be addressed urgently and decisively. The government should not be ashamed of itself and should acknowledge past mistakes and implement recommendations of the Lowassa committee,” he said, adding that buildings blacklisted by the team should be re-evaluated and demolished if necessary.

“Let me share a secret with you. Kariakoo is not being built by qualified engineers. It’s being built by brokers and middlemen in collaboration with their bosses. The project signboards that you see are there just for show. While projects may be duly registered, it is rare to find a qualified expert overseeing construction.”

A handful of companies

A thorough investigation will most likely establish that only a handful of companies are behind up to 95 percent of project registrations in Kariakoo, Mr Magida said.

An architect from Mbeya University, Mr Lameck Godfrey, said the government has made the right decision to appoint a committee to inspect commercial buildings in Kariakoo.

He noted that although an investigation was conducted nearly two decades ago, technological advancements and other changes necessitate a re-evaluation, although some of the previous recommendations can be considered.

“There were things that were relevant ten years ago, but are no longer applicable now due to numerous profound changes that have taken place over the years. The committee to be formed should also investigate the so-called experts manning Kariakoo construction sites. There are claims that wealthy individuals could be bypassing qualified professionals and hiring cheap, unqualified labour instead.”

Mr Godfrey said both compliance with and application of the relevant laws and regulations should be scrutinised as far as the construction boom in Kariakoo is concerned.

"Granted, we have regulations, but one is bound to ask whether they are being adhered to in light of what has been happening in recent years.”

Mr Godfrey further noted that Kariakoo is a vital hub for business that also draws traders from neighbouring countries and warned that incidents such as frequent building collapses could drive them away.

Financial greed

He said the government should also look into allegations that some building owners, driven by financial greed, are constructing substandard structures.

Dr Fares Kemwita of Ardhi University commended the decision to appoint an inspection committee, describing it as a positive step.

He said there is a need for swift action, adding that the spate of disasters witnessed over the past two decades or so would have been averted had the government implemented recommendations of construction experts.

“Expert studies and recommendations are often disregarded until disasters happen. We should pay attention to research findings as they can play a key role in preventing the kind of disasters that now take place with alarming frequency.”

Dr Kemwita added that it is important to establish from the outset the lifespan of commercial buildings, especially high-rise structures, and ensure that inspections are conducted at regular intervals during construction to ensure strict adherence to the relevant regulations.

“It is worrying to note that high-rise buildings are springing up like mushrooms after the rain in Kariakoo. They are being constructed at astonishing speed that should be a cause for concern,” he said.