Kariakoo 24/7: A brilliant idea whose time has come

By Mwita Chacha

Dar es Salaam is the largest city in East Africa by population and the sixth-largest in Africa. Located on the Indian Ocean coast, Dar es Salaam is an important economic centre and one of the fastest-growing cities in the world.

The city is home to Kariakoo, Tanzania’s biggest and busiest shopping district that draws tens of thousands of shoppers from within and outside the country every day. The decision to open Kariakoo for business around the clock is thus a step in the right direction, bearing in mind the area’s importance to the national economy.

A 24-hour economy refers to a situation where a country’s economic activities – encompassing production, services and commerce – operate continuously throughout the day, diverging from the conventional eight-hour workday. In a typical 24-hour economy, businesses and services remain operational around the clock with an aim to optimise productivity and efficiency.

This is aimed at initiating or sustaining a nation’s economic growth. As such, the 24-hour city economy is a fundamental part of the urban renaissance because it extends the vitality of a city beyond normal working hours, making it even more attractive

Dar es Salaam’s population, dominance and importance have grown steadily since independence and will continue to do so for the foreseeable future. According to the 2022 Tanzania Population and Housing Census, Dar es Salaam had 5.384 million people. This represents over a third of Tanzania’s total urban population, whose annual growth rate is around 5.6 percent.

With increased unemployment and multiple sourcing of income, a 24-hour city economy provides an opportunity for additional employment and engagement in income-generating activities.

To the keen observer, Dar es Salaam already had lively nightlife and a busy night economy. There is no doubt that Dar es Salaam has the potential to be a 24-hour city economy. A drive around the city at night is enough to show one that Dar es Salaam is a beehive of activities.

The busy nightlife is evident by the numerous and vibrant leisure and entertainment activities not only in the central business district but also in residential areas. The night economy is driven by industrial night shifts, petrol stations, hospitals, security companies, police, entertainment spots, hotels, call centres, taxi operators and most recently we have been seeing some bank branches operating for 24 hours.

All these is enough evidence that you do not need to run an office for eight hours then shut down for 16 hours. The government must learn from the private sector, especially the manufacturing industry, on how shifts and night operations can work efficiently.

Imagine the benefits of TRA, NHIF, NSSF, the Immigration Department and other key public entities operating 24/7. It would save Tanzanians time and costs and greatly boost efficiency and productivity. Daytime congestion would be greatly reduced if offices remain open at night.

For instance, it is absurd for 851,000 civil servants to work from 8am to 4pm and then head home at the same time, leading to traffic snarl-ups we witness on our roads almost every day.

Challenges will obviously crop up along the way, but we must ask ourselves how others succeeded. Part of the challenge will be to find ways of encouraging and enabling the positive side of this business model.

Some of the policy issues and challenges that need to be addressed in the city include security, mobility, inclusiveness, the need to change mindsets and attitudes, by-laws, labour laws and investment in supportive infrastructure.

Insecurity will obviously discourage people from being part of a 24-hour city economy. Installation of CCTV cameras at strategic places, good lighting and rapid response to crimes and criminal activities will attract more people into the city at night.

Guarantee of security, stability and good governance will reduce the risk of doing business, good infrastructure will reduce costs of doing business and finally people will have the incentives they need to invest and innovate and job-creation will naturally follow, leading to swift economic growth.

Mwita Chacha is Head of Strategy and Human Capital at MnC Consulting Limited in Dar es Salaam. [email protected]