Heights spatial characteristics of buildings in Tanzania and its impact on spatial urban growth.

Context and background: Like other countries, Tanzania is facing rapid urban growth characterized by a significant increase in the urban population and the spatial expansion of urbanized areas. Goal and objectives: This study is focused on examining the impact of the rapid proliferation of single-story buildings in major cities in Tanzania and its implications for urban spatial growth in six major cities. The methodology: The research methodology involved the use of secondary data collection methods, including a comprehensive review of the literature and an analysis of the 2022 National Population and Building Census. Additionally, a detailed examination of Building Statistics from the 2022 National Census was conducted to identify patterns and implications. The data analysis reveals that single-story buildings dominate the urban landscape of major cities, accounting for an average of 91.3% of all buildings. Further examination of the statistics shows that in Dodoma, single-story buildings represent 91.5%, in Dar es Salaam City it's 90.9%, in Tanga City it's 89.0%, in Arusha City it's 90.9%, in Mbeya City it's 93.5%, and in Mwanza City, it's 91.4%. These findings underscore the prevalent trend of horizontal urban expansion and the characteristics of urban sprawl in the development of these six major cities. The evaluation of the data also indicates that multi-story buildings constitute approximately 1.8% of the total number of buildings in the major cities. Specifically, in Dodoma, the percentage is 0.7%, in Dar es Salaam City, it is 2.4%, in Tanga City, it is 1.5%, in Arusha City, it is 4.0%, in Mbeya City, it is 0.6%, and in Mwanza City, it stands at 1.2%. These statistics suggest that the prevailing trend in land development within these six major cities is characterized by horizontal urban expansion, which is indicative of urban sprawl. The results reveal that over 90% of all buildings in major cities in Tanzania are single-story buildings, while less than 10% are multi-story buildings. This indicates a predominantly horizontal urban growth pattern in all cities, primarily driven by single-story buildings, leading to an increase in the spatial extent of urbanized areas. This trend may heighten the burden on local government authorities to provide services to the increasing number of constructed buildings.