Machinga return to Kariakoo streets, defying relocation order
Informal traders known as 'machinga' have returned to restricted streets in Dar es Salaam, defying government relocation orders. Local officials and trader leadership are currently at odds over who is responsible for the enforcement failures.
Why it matters
The situation highlights the ongoing tension between urban planning, public safety, and the livelihoods of informal workers in developing cities.
Dar es Salaam. Despite ongoing government operations to clear informal traders, popularly known as machinga, from unauthorised zones, several vendors have returned to Uhuru and Msimbazi roads, triggering fresh complaints from road users.
The persistent presence of street vendors on pedestrian walkways and road margins continues to pose a challenge to commuters, with some drivers claiming the resulting gridlock has forced them to alter their routes.
The initiative to clear Machinga from Kariakoo’s Uhuru and Msimbazi roads officially commenced on March 4, 2026, spearheaded by the Dar es Salaam City Council alongside the city auxiliary police and the Police Force.
The operation was executed following a directive issued on February 17, 2026, aimed at restoring order along major transport corridors, specifically targeting illegal trading on road reserves, footpaths, and other areas posing safety hazards to the public.
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