Overview & Governance


Status & Location: A district-level authority within Tanga Region, encompassing the historic city and port of Tanga along the Indian Ocean. It is about 354 km north of Dar es Salaam and 250 km south of Mombasa.


Area: Approximately 596.5 km², including ~62 km² of water.


Population: As of the 2022 Census, about 393,429 residents.


Governance:



Led by a Lord Mayor (Hon. Abdulrahman Omary Shillow) and administered by City Director Dr. Sipora Liana .


Council comprises 38 councillors representing 4 divisions and 27 wards (~181 urban neighborhoods).


Responsibilities include urban planning, land management, infrastructure, service provision, and licensing.







Administration – Wards


Divisions & Wards: The council is subdivided into 4 divisions and 27 wards (18 urban + 9 peri‑urban) .


Examples of wards (with area & pop. from 2012):



Central: 3.8 km², ~5,739 people; hosts the council headquarters and the Port of Tanga .


Mzingani: ~8.1 km², ~29,041 people; coastal ward with tribunal, police station, health & schools.


Makorora (~1.1 km², ~16,664 people), Mwanzange (7.6 km², ~7,521 people; includes Tanga Airport).




Local Administration: Each ward features a local government office, tribunal (Baraza la Kata), police station, executive officer plus council committee—seats include reserved quotas for women (1/3).





Infrastructure & Services


Port & Transport: Home to Tanga Port (second largest in Tanzania); served by road, rail (to Moshi, Dar es Salaam), and Tanga Airport (domestic).


Energy: Supplied via national grid—hydroelectric plants on Pangani River provide adequate power; growing solar & wind generation.


Water & Sanitation: Zigi River supports water supply system with capacity (~42,000 m³/day) above city demand (~26,000 m³/day).


Health & Education:



~62 health facilities, including hospitals, health centers, dispensaries—staffed by a broad medical workforce .


Over 124 schools (109 primary, 44 secondary), plus tertiary institutions like Open University and Public Service College .







Economy & Industries


Economic Base: Agriculture and livestock form ~90% of employment and GDP; fishing employs ~15%. Trade, port activities, industry, tourism, and services make up the rest .


Key Products: Food crops (cassava, maize, cowpeas); cash crops (coconut, mango, orange, sisal, cashew) with notable yields between 2018–2021.


Fishing: Sea-based and aquaculture (tilapia ponds); revenues from licensing and fish auctions.


Industrial Profile: Houses processing, manufacturing, cement, mining, salt works, oil industries and financial services (banks & mobile money) .





Strategic Plans & Projects


Development Plans: Follows 5‑year strategic plans aligning with national policy (Vision 2025); earlier plans date back to 2011–2016 .


Major Projects:



TACTIC project (Cities Transforming Infrastructure & Competitiveness) slated for March 2025.


TAUSI civic‑tech project enhancing service delivery, revenue, and youth employment.


Investment guide (2023) highlights land parcel readiness, industrial sites, real‑estate, and urban transport infrastructure.







? Contact Info


Main Office: Independent Avenue, P.O. Box 178, Tanga.


Phone: +255 27 2643068 • Fax: +255 27 2644141 / 2647905


Email: info@tangacc.go.tz (for complaints: malalamiko@tangacc.go.tz).





In Summary
Tanga City Council is a significant regional hub—administratively robust, economically diverse (agriculture, port, industry), and strategically developing via national-aligned plans and international projects. Its governance structure ensures representation across multiple wards, while ongoing infrastructure and civic initiatives aim to boost urban services and economic growth.