Imagine needing a simple document, like an introduction letter, only to find out the local government office is a charred ruin. This is the stark reality for many residents of Dar es Salaam, where a breakdown in local governance is crippling communities after a wave of arson attacks. The burning of ward offices has not only halted essential services but also instilled deep fear among local leaders, leaving ordinary citizens struggling to access even the most basic necessities. But here's where it gets controversial: Are these acts of arson simply random acts of violence, or are they a symptom of deeper societal issues and frustrations bubbling to the surface?
Following violent unrest on October 29, 2025, several ward chairpersons’ and neighbourhood executives’ offices in Dar es Salaam were deliberately set ablaze. The fires consumed everything, from crucial official stamps and pens to vital documents. For residents, this translates to a nightmare scenario: they can no longer easily obtain essential services. Even something as simple as getting an introduction letter, a document often required for employment or other official processes, has become a major hurdle. Critical documents needed for land regularisation, a process that allows residents to legally claim ownership of their land, are now completely inaccessible, further complicating matters. And this is the part most people miss: the destruction of these records can have long-term consequences for property ownership and legal rights, potentially impacting generations.
This crisis has forced local leaders to drastically change how they operate. Instead of serving residents from their offices, many now resort to meeting citizens in informal settings, often after arranging a location via phone. Some leaders are now going to roadside food stalls or even meeting under trees. While this shows a commitment to serving the community, it also highlights the severity of the situation. According to residents, even these makeshift arrangements don't guarantee access to all services. Worse still, some leaders are simply too frightened to be reached at all, creating a vacuum of governance in certain areas.
The disturbances that led to the destruction of these offices were sparked by protests. The unrest resulted in the torching of not only local government offices, but also police posts, petrol stations, vehicles, private homes, rickshaws, and motorcycles. Businesses were also left in ruins. The widespread destruction has sown deep fear among local government leaders. Some are so afraid that they are unwilling to even identify themselves by their official titles, fearing they could become targets. As one leader anonymously stated, they simply “do not know what the arsonists intend to do next.”
Despite the fear, some leaders have shown remarkable resilience. Refusing to be deterred, they are operating from makeshift spaces – roadside food stalls and under trees – while exercising extreme caution. They are trying their best to serve their communities despite the challenging circumstances. Amidst all this chaos, the Ministry of State in the Prime Minister’s Office (Regional Administration and Local Government – Tamisemi) has issued instructions for affected leaders to temporarily relocate their services to unaffected offices in nearby areas. District councils have been tasked with coordinating the restoration of the destroyed facilities.
The Citizen newspaper visited several affected local government offices and found services being offered in unconventional locations. In Ubungo Kisiwani, the ward chairperson and the executive officer were found offering services – one from a food vendor’s stall, the other from beneath a tree beside the burnt office. The executive officer had set up a makeshift workspace in a rickety shack made of rusty iron sheets, equipped with a plastic table, an old bench, a single plastic chair, two stamps, and a few files. Meanwhile, the chairperson conducted business under the shade of a nearby tree. However, when approached for comment, the chairperson expressed deep fear, stating, “I don’t want to say anything. Don’t bring trouble to me – what if they come and burn my house? I don’t want that.”
In Mabibo NIT, residents seeking services must now call the leader and arrange a meeting point. The office building is in ruins, and no officials are present. Motorcycle taxi riders nearby confirmed that services now depend entirely on contacting the chairperson or the executive officer to organise a meeting. Similar situations prevail in Shekilango, Sinza, and Magomeni, where offices were also burnt on October 29. Obtaining any service requires contacting the relevant leader and arranging a meeting. A resident of Shekilango, Juma Seko, stated, “Most leaders now work wherever they are. If you need help, you call them – but don’t go to their homes; they’re afraid.”
Kibamba Ward Chairperson Sembuli Mgendi explained that it has become extremely difficult to serve residents because all key documents, stamps, and work tools were destroyed in the fire. Key services, including issuing introduction letters, stamping documents, and processing land regularisation paperwork, have stalled. For Stop Over Ward Chairperson Alex Msuka, staying in the office is impossible because it was burnt down. He now offers services outside – but not from his home – because he fears what the arsonists may be planning. "There is a lot of fear among us. You even hesitate to mention your title. When someone calls you ‘chairman’, you worry they might be targeting you,” he said.
Residents are feeling the impact of this governance breakdown. Dominick Maina of Sinza explained that it has become extremely difficult to reach local leaders because many are afraid and no longer have offices. "You call them, and they ask who you are, then more questions. They feel hunted and lack peace of mind. We are the ones suffering because services are no longer easy to access,” he said. Saumu Hamza of Magomeni added that several services are simply unavailable because the offices – and their official stamps – were destroyed. Mussa Kaisi of Mabibo reported that his important documents kept in the ward office were burnt, forcing him to restart the entire process of replacing them.
In response to the crisis, Tamisemi Minister Professor Riziki Shemdoe urged residents in affected wards to seek services from nearby wards. "Residents should go to neighbouring wards to access the required services while the Government works on restoring the burnt offices,” he said. He also directed local leaders to operate from neighbouring safe offices while district councils organise service restoration. "First, we sympathise with residents facing these difficulties. Leaders should go to nearby safe offices to deliver services, and residents should follow them there,” he said.
This situation raises several critical questions. Are neighbouring wards equipped to handle the increased demand for services? How long will it take for the destroyed offices to be rebuilt and services fully restored? And perhaps most importantly, what steps are being taken to address the underlying issues that led to the protests and arson attacks in the first place? Is the government doing enough to reassure local leaders and residents, and to prevent similar incidents from happening again? The answers to these questions will determine the future of local governance in Dar es Salaam. What are your thoughts on the government’s response? Do you think the focus should be on rebuilding infrastructure, addressing the root causes of the unrest, or both? Share your opinions in the comments below.
