Shocks
Unemployment is a critical issue.
The city is suffering from an increasing recurrence of flooding:
– In 2011, 50 casualties, 800 families relocated in free plots (national measure).
– In 2014, 20 casualties and the main gateway bridges connecting the city destroyed, causing the paralysis of the economic activity and creating food supply critical problems and rising prices.
Rising of the sea level.
In 2006, a severe drought caused power rationing and a GDP fall of 1%.

Capacity of action and level of competences

The City has to coordinate the 3 Municipalities in:

• supporting and promoting alternative energy;
• the construction and running of upcountry bus station;
• the coordination of stakeholders on the location of bus stops;
• the coordination of stakeholders in meeting the City priorities.

Services
The main characteristics of services under the city’s competences are as follows:

• 41 % piped water supply.
• Sewer service from DAWASA 10% (199Km sewer system).
• Septic tanks 19%.
• Pit latrines 71%.
• Pollution of the ground and groundwater.
• Storm Water Drainage Systems 600 Km2.
• Open Channel Drainage 1.100Km.
• The sewer system was built during the colonial time and not upgraded since. The system is 100% overburdened and overflowing and there is no wastewater treatment available, water goes directly into the sea.
• The road network is mostly unpaved (60%). This competence is divided between national and local level.
• 70% of the population lives in informal settlements overcrowded and badly constructed that lack basic infrastructures such as roads, storm water drainage, sewage systems or power supply. More than 100 of those settlements are located within the city, taking advantage of the affordability and availability of lands.
• Although the city has rules and policies, they cannot be applied from the political interference due to upcoming elections or as they are covered by informal structures.

Environment

The city has 72Km2 of forest reserves including Pande Coastal Forest, Dondwe Coastal Forest and Pugu Rain Forest. In the last 30 years, due to the huge uncontrolled urban growth and the charcoal needs derived, 30% of forests have been cleared. The city has 4 major rivers and several streams. Two of these rivers  provide the water supply for the city (Kizinga and Ruvu rivers). The bad management of drainage and the uncontrolled waste dumping collapse the basins of rivers and impacts in big flooding and health. Local government collects 41% of generated solid waste.