Tanzania’s urban housing crisis sparks calls for reform

Dodoma. Tanzania’s growing urban housing crisis has prompted urgent calls for reform, as experts warn the situation is nearing a tipping point.

This was the central message during the National Conference on Housing held in Dodoma, which brought together stakeholders from government, civil society, academia, and the private sector.

The two-day conference, themed “Nyumba ni Sisi: Removing Roadblocks to Adequate and Affordable Housing in Tanzania,” was organised by Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES), Habitat for Humanity Tanzania, and the Just City Platform.

Also read: The housing crisis in urban Tanzania

While urbanisation signals economic growth, it has overstretched land, infrastructure, and housing systems, pushing low- and middle-income Tanzanians into informal settlements with poor access to services.

“Urbanisation must be managed in a socially just manner,” said Mr Christian Denzin, director of FES.

 “Housing is not a commodity; it is a human right. We must dismantle exclusionary systems and ensure no one is left behind.”

Ms Magdalena George, National Director of Habitat for Humanity Tanzania, highlighted key challenges such as high land costs, expensive construction, and limited financing.

“These barriers force families to self-build inadequate homes, worsening inequality and poverty,” she said.

Participants discussed the structural and policy gaps affecting the housing sector, and explored urban development models that prioritise people over profit.

Stakeholders called for the fast-tracking of the National Housing Policy, stronger public-private partnerships, and wider access to affordable housing finance. 

They emphasised the need for coordinated national action to unlock large-scale, inclusive housing development. 

The conference concluded with a joint call to make housing a top policy priority, stating that only bold reforms and sustained collaboration can address Tanzania’s deepening housing deficit.