A Call To Unleash Potentials Of Hazardous Land In Dar Es Salaam: A Case Of Jangwani And Msimbazi River Valley

The study explains prospects of unleashing potentials of hazardous land in cities. Land is finite in supply and therefore every category of land must be properly utilized. The study was conducted at Jangwani and Msimbazi Valley in Dar es Salaam City with the aim of proposing the best ways of utilizing hazardous land and benefits that can be derived from them instead of being left idle. The proposition of the researcher emanates from the fact that the case study areas are seasonally flooded and that can be put into suitable uses in dry season. The study adopted a qualitative research design whereby in-depth interviews were conducted to Ilala and Kinondoni Municipals officials, NEMC officials, local leaders, urban planning and botanical experts, engineers, landscape architects and quantity surveyors. Focus group discussion was done with selected residents of Jangwani and Msimbazi Valley. Examination of other similar successful projects around the globe was done and the researcher went to the site and took photos. Pattern matching, thematic analysis and logic models were the strategies employed in analyzing qualitative data. The findings were presented in figures, tables and photos. The findings revealed that Jangwani and Msimbazi valley can be used for City park, urban agriculture, public parking facilities or urban forest. Diversification channel should be dug, establishment of flood plains, soil treatment and sanitation control must be done prior the proposed uses. Also, it was revealed that the government would benefit from increased revenues from parking fees, flood control, tourism attraction, reduction of expenditures incurred during floods and the project would contribute to aesthetic value of the City. It is recommended that participatory approach should be used in implementing the project whereby the government, community and responsible authorities would cooperate to offer both financial and material support to accomplish the project.