ARUSHA: THE government has urged construction professionals to prioritise building safety, quality and value for money to ensure infrastructure projects support the implementation of Tanzania’s Development Vision 2050.
Deputy Minister for Works, Godfrey Kasekenya made the call in Arusha on Wednesday when opening the Sixth Annual General Meeting of the Architects and Quantity Surveyors Registration Board (AQRB), on behalf of Works Minister Masanja Kadogosa.
He said the construction sector had a major responsibility to translate Vision 2050 into safe, sustainable and high-quality infrastructure that delivers tangible benefits to citizens.
Mr Kasekenya said the vision seeks to build a strong, competitive and inclusive economy driven by knowledge, technology and the productive use of national resources.
He stressed that the sector’s success should not be measured solely by the number of buildings constructed, but also by their safety, quality, value for money and contribution to economic growth and improved living standards.
Architects, he said, must ensure buildings meet people’s needs while protecting the environment, while quantity surveyors should promote efficient resource utilisation.
Project managers, meanwhile, must ensure projects are completed on time and meet required standards. Mr Kasekenya described building safety as a legal, professional and ethical responsibility, urging government institutions, local authorities, investors and private sector players to ensure projects are registered and supervised by qualified professionals with valid registration.
He said that during the 2025/26 financial year, AQRB registered 1,947 projects and inspected 6,274 across 26 regions of Mainland Tanzania.
The Deputy Minister also called for greater adoption of modern technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI), digital systems and Building Information Modelling (BIM), to improve productivity, reduce construction costs and enhance project quality.
He said climate change posed challenges that required construction professionals to prioritise sustainable infrastructure capable of withstanding heavy rainfall, flooding and other environmental threats.
On skills development, Mr Kasekenya said the Architects and Quantity Surveyors Internship Programme (AQIP) had benefited 1,866 graduates, including 1,163 supported by the government and 703 by the private sector.
He urged AQRB to collaborate with the Ministry of Works and private sector stakeholders to expand practical training and connect young professionals with major infrastructure projects.
He also encouraged foreign construction companies operating in Tanzania to establish productive partnerships with local firms to facilitate technology transfer, knowledge-sharing and improved competitiveness.
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Tanzania Institute of Quantity Surveyors (TIQS) President Suma Mwaitenda called for greater involvement of local quantity surveyors in major infrastructure projects to safeguard public resources and ensure value for money.
Citing the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR), Ms Mwaitenda said major infrastructure investments should strengthen domestic expertise and enable Tanzanian professionals and firms to undertake increasingly complex projects.
She also highlighted challenges facing local companies, including limited access to capital, technology and practical experience.
Representing the Arusha Regional Commissioner, Arumeru District Commissioner Neema Lugangira called for more opportunities for Tanzanian contractors in construction tenders to create jobs and strengthen local participation in development projects.
The meeting was held under the theme, “Building the Tanzania We Want Towards 2050: Strengthening Regional and International Cooperation for a Sustainable Construction Environment.”