The contribution of ineffective urban planning practices to disaster and disaster risks accumulation in urban areas: the case of former Kunduchi quarry site in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

This study examined the link between urban planning practices and disaster risks. The
study used the former Kunduchi Quarry Site within the City of Dar es Salaam to demonstrate
how laxity in enforcing the laid down planning rules, regulations and procedures
facilitates the accumulation and occurrence of disaster risks and disasters in urban areas.
This undermines one of the central roles of urban planning, which is to protect the lives
of people from disaster risks and disasters. In exploring this, the study specifically focused
on understanding the rules, regulations and procedures of planning in Tanzania; the extent
to which they are followed and, where they are not followed, their implications for
disaster risks and disasters; the coping initiatives adopted by local communities to reduce
risks and their level of success or failure; and finally the drawing of lessons and recommendations
for disaster risk reduction in urban areas. Strongly emerging from this study
is the finding that although planning rules and regulations do exist, they are not enforced.
As a result urban communities suffer from disaster risks and disasters caused by unregulated
activities. The study analyzed the coping initiatives that urban communities apply to
reduce disaster risks in their areas. It noted that, while a range of “coping” responses could
be observed, these are not lasting solutions to the disaster risks being faced. Sustainable
solutions seem to be known by the local community but they are not adopted for fear of
compromising or undermining their existing livelihood strategies.