Tanzania: Tanzania Orders Residents Living in High-Risk Areas of Msimbazi River to Relocate Before El Nino Rains

What the report says

Tanzania’s Minister of State in the Vice-President’s Office responsible for Union and Environment, Hamad Yussuf Masauni, has called on people living in high-risk areas along the Msimbazi River to move to safer locations. The warning, reported by Tanzania Daily News and distributed by AllAfrica, was issued during a working visit to Dar es Salaam on 4 October 2026.

According to the report, the appeal was tied to weather forecasts indicating possible El Niño conditions, which could increase flooding dangers in low-lying and vulnerable parts of the city and elsewhere in the country. Masauni said residents should take the risk seriously and follow expert guidance on living in flood-prone areas.

The minister also raised concern about continued dumping of waste in rivers and drainage channels, saying it undermines government efforts to manage flooding and sanitation. He directed leaders at different levels to carry out President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s instructions on maintaining clean cities.

Ilala District Commissioner Edward Mpogolo said the government would keep working with residents to clear drainage systems and waterways, and noted that the Pugu Kinyamwezi landfill had received a new excavator to support waste management. The report reflects broader flood-preparedness and urban sanitation concerns in Dar es Salaam ahead of seasonal rains.