Planning Models for Small Towns
in Tanzania
Dawah Lulu Magembe-Mushi and Ally Namangaya
1 Key Messages
1. In Tanzania, a large population with vibrant economic activities mostly informal,
is found within cities, regions and small towns. These small towns are growing
rapidly and strongly associated with mismanagement especially in their infancy
stages.
2. The impact of mismanagement is manifested in expanding informality, both in
economic activities as well as housing and social service provision.
3. Spatial informality implies inadequate provision of basic utilities and social
services, horizontal congestion of people and activities and inability to geocode
residences and functions.
4. These characteristics fasten the spread of communicable diseases
like COVID-19 and the approaches of contact tracing which towns are
relying upon to curb the spread of the pandemics become almost inapplicable.
5. Small towns require special attention in making sure that, the spread of such
diseases is controlled through better planning, improved servicing and better
development control and urban management.
D. L. Magembe-Mushi (B) · A. Namangaya
School of Spatial Planning and Social
Sciences, Ardhi University, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
e-mail: dawah.mushi@aru.ac.tz
A. Namangaya
e-mail: ally.namangaya@aru.ac.tz
© Zhejiang University Press 2021
F. W. Gatzweiler, Urban Health and Wellbeing Programme,
Urban Health and Wellbeing,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-33-6036-5_9
51
in Tanzania
Dawah Lulu Magembe-Mushi and Ally Namangaya
1 Key Messages
1. In Tanzania, a large population with vibrant economic activities mostly informal,
is found within cities, regions and small towns. These small towns are growing
rapidly and strongly associated with mismanagement especially in their infancy
stages.
2. The impact of mismanagement is manifested in expanding informality, both in
economic activities as well as housing and social service provision.
3. Spatial informality implies inadequate provision of basic utilities and social
services, horizontal congestion of people and activities and inability to geocode
residences and functions.
4. These characteristics fasten the spread of communicable diseases
like COVID-19 and the approaches of contact tracing which towns are
relying upon to curb the spread of the pandemics become almost inapplicable.
5. Small towns require special attention in making sure that, the spread of such
diseases is controlled through better planning, improved servicing and better
development control and urban management.
D. L. Magembe-Mushi (B) · A. Namangaya
School of Spatial Planning and Social
Sciences, Ardhi University, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
e-mail: dawah.mushi@aru.ac.tz
A. Namangaya
e-mail: ally.namangaya@aru.ac.tz
© Zhejiang University Press 2021
F. W. Gatzweiler, Urban Health and Wellbeing Programme,
Urban Health and Wellbeing,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-33-6036-5_9
51