Investigation on the impacts of delay of government building construction projects in Tanzania: a case study of Dar es Salaam and Mjini Magharibi

Construction projects in Tanzania face a lot of delays and sometimes total abandonment. However, no study has been conducted/ published to determine the causes and impacts of delays in government building construction projects in Tanzania. The intention of this study was to investigate the causes and impacts of government building construction projects in Tanzania and to recommend strategies for improving projects delivery. This work was done by questionnaire survey and interviews in government institutions on both Tanzania mainland and Zanzibar Islands, various construction and consultancy firms including military building units (Suma JKT, Police building unit, Prison building unit). The research revealed that the major causes of delays in government building construction projects, from client point of view, are financial difficulties, delays in interim payment, poor decision making and inappropriate mode of financing projects. Delays caused by contractors are financial difficulties, inappropriate project planning, poor planning and fluctuation in price of building materials. Delays caused by consultants are under estimates of the project cost, inadequate feasibility studies and poor contractual management. It can be concluded that proper planning and proper payment from client, good scheduling programme from contractor and clear contract and BOQ from consultant will help to avoid delaying in government building construction projects in Tanzania.