DODOMA: THE Tanzania Buildings Agency (TBA) plans to cut its dependence on Treasury funding from 55 per cent to about 13 per cent by 2033 under a new seven-year strategy that will expand public-private partnerships and strengthen housing development across the country.

TBA Acting Chief Executive Officer, Mr Rajab Mndeme said the agency was responding to growing demand for affordable and decent accommodation through its 2026/27–2032/33 Strategic Plan, which aims to expand commercial real estate development while reducing reliance on government funding.

“We have already started receiving proposals from different private entities for the Nzuguni B project, which seeks to construct 3,500 houses for public servants,” Mr Mndeme said.

He made the remarks during a working tour by the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Infrastructure at the Nzuguni B site in Dodoma, where TBA is undertaking the housing project.

The project comes as demand for government housing continues to rise in Dodoma, with more than 8,000 public servants already applying for rental homes following the relocation of the country’s administrative capital from Dar es Salaam.

Mr Mndeme said the agency’s long-term goal is to become financially selfreliant by attracting private capital into viable real estate projects across the country.

“Our goal is to become financially self-reliant by attracting private capital into viable real estate projects across the country,” he said.

Under the strategic plan, TBA has identified investment-ready sites across mainland Tanzania, including high-priority public land in 20 regions earmarked for residential, commercial and mixed-use developments in partnership with private investors.

The plan is aligned with the country’s National Development Vision and Vision 2050, under which TBA has been tasked with supporting broader national development goals by ensuring the availability of quality and accessible housing.

At the centre of the agency’s housing drive is the Nzuguni B project, which sits on a 640-hectare site and was launched in October 2021.

According to TBA Acting Regional Manager, Mr Emmanuel Wambura, the project is being implemented in phases, with the first phase already demonstrating strong demand.

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About 150 houses were constructed during Phase One at a cost of approximately 14.3bn/-, and all of them have been fully occupied by public servants.

“Work is now progressing under Phase Two, where 50 houses are at the final stages of completion, with plans to eventually deliver another 150 houses,” Mr Wambura said.

He added that the phase will also include two multistorey residential buildings capable of accommodating a total of 30 families.

The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Infrastructure expressed satisfaction with the project’s progress, describing it as an important intervention for public servants struggling to find suitable and affordable rental accommodation in the rapidly growing capital.

Committee Chairperson, Mr Seleman Kakoso welcomed the involvement of the private sector, saying it would help speed up the implementation of major development projects.

“We are convinced by the government’s decision to engage the private sector in implementing these development projects. However, we request that funds for the implementation of the projects be released on time,” Mr Kakoso said.