The social and economic effects of lateral city expansion: a case study of Kinondoni Municipality Dar es Salaam

The major objective of the study was to investigate the social and economic effects associated with lateral city expansion in Dar es Salaam. The study was prompted by the fact that, there has been not study conducted to display the implications resulting from the lateral city expansion which displaces local individuals who had been processing the land customarily. There is persistent trend of town planners to expand cities lateral all over Tanzania. Data were collected using different methods, including interview, observation, in-depth discussion, and focus group discussions. The sampling method employed was that of snowball. The major findings are that, lateral city expansion has negatively affected the former landlords both, economically and socially. These have lost economic opportunities and social networking. It has also negatively affected women who are now forced to move long distances in search of food and fuel wood. The study concluded that, lateral city expansion does not constitute efficient use of land resources. The study recommends that vertical expansion of the city with high rising building should replace the small untidy government and individual houses.