President Samia pledges action on building integrity after Kariakoo collapse

Dar es Salaam. President Samia Suluhu Hassan announced on Wednesday that her administration will fully implement the recommendations of a committee currently formed to inspect the structural integrity of buildings in Dar es Salaam's Kariakoo area.

The President made the remarks during a visit to Kariakoo, following the tragic collapse of a building on Saturday, November 16, which has so far claimed the lives of 20 people.

While in Brazil for the G20 Leaders' Summit in Rio de Janeiro, President Suluhu directed Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa to oversee the formation of a team tasked with thoroughly inspecting all buildings in the Kariakoo to assess their structural conditions.

The President said the government's priority is to ensure safety and compliance with building regulations in one of Dar es Salaam's busiest and most densely populated areas.

“We will disclose the findings and recommendations of the team. We will not hesitate to follow the recommendation to demolish substandard buildings if that would be the commissions’ endorsement,” she said, promising to follow 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 over the government's past response to similar recommendations.

In 2013, she said two commissions worked on the area and submitted their recommendations, hinting that the gathered information would be helpful in the new planned measures.

Earlier, a committee was formed in 2006 after the collapse of the Chang’ombe Village Inn hotel in Keko, which killed one person and injured several others.

The probe found that out of 505 buildings inspected, 147 lacked proper construction documentation.

Further alarming findings revealed that 81 buildings violated construction regulations, while 22 were built without any traceable ownership, disregarding legal procedures.

The findings were documented but little was done afterward, leading many to question whether the latest investigation into the Kariakoo incident will lead to substantial changes.

However, President Suluhu vowed that her administration would take decisive action following the ongoing inspections.

“The collapse of the building has sent a clear message to the government about the need for a comprehensive review of the structural integrity of all buildings in Kariakoo,” she said, noting the poor management and cost-cutting measures that led to the disaster.

She explained that the building in question had been constructed with minimal financial investment, without adequate analysis of the potential risks involved, ultimately leading to its collapse.

“To avoid such incidents in the future, we have already formed a team of 20 experts who are diligently working to ensure that buildings in Kariakoo are built to standard and that such accidents do not happen again,” President Suluhu added.

The tragedy, she said, demonstrates failures at multiple levels of governance, from central and local governments to regional authorities, saying it was imperative that all stakeholders—government entities, civil society, and the public—work together to prevent a repeat of such incidents.

The President called for strict adherence to construction standards and greater scrutiny during project implementation to ensure public safety. She noted that while permits were issued, quality control during construction was neglected, leading to the catastrophe.

Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa provided an update on ongoing rescue and recovery operations at the site. He announced plans to transfer traders’ merchandise from the collapsed building to a secure warehouse while search efforts continue for any remaining victims.

He commended the community for its cooperation during the rescue operations. “It is encouraging to see that no looting occurred during the rescue efforts. Instead, community members actively participated, demonstrating a growing awareness of the importance of collective action in emergencies,” he said.

The Kariakoo building collapse is one of the most devastating construction-related incidents in Tanzania’s recent history, prompting widespread calls for reforms in urban planning, construction oversight, and governance accountability.

As investigations continue, authorities have pledged to enforce stricter building regulations and ensure greater vigilance in the sector. The government’s response will be closely monitored as the nation demands justice for the victims and preventative measures to avert future tragedies.