THE government has floated a tender looking for a contractor to install security cameras (CCTV) in the Kariakoo area of Dar es Salaam to curb crime and facilitate 24-hour business operations.

Edward Mpogolo, the Ilala district commissioner, said in an interview yesterday that the city director issued a notice on December 2, seeking a contractor to carry out the installation work.

Yesterday was marked out for site visits to point out where the cameras would be installed, starting from the police station along Msimbazi Street, he said, highlighting that the tender notice affirms that installation may be undertaken by private companies, public institutions or joint ventures.

Installation work for CCTV cameras in the zone is the first phase, where the tender has invited participation from public firms, local and foreign companies, special interest groups, local manufacturers, joint ventures, foreign manufacturers and any such partnerships.

The government has allocated funds for the project in 2024/2025 city estimates, in line with a directive by President Samia Suluhu Hassan that businesses be facilitated to operate on a 24 hour basis..

City regional commissioner Albert Chalamila said during a working night time tour last month that the government plans to install these cameras in various parts of the city to improve security.

The cameras and lights would be placed in high-traffic areas including Kariakoo, a move that comes in a situation where incidents of fire have often occurred, without ability to trace what actually happened,

The recent collapse of a four story building where 31 people lost their lives is also being tied to lack of surveillance in the busy commercial district.

At the same time, CCTV installation is being taken up while renovation of the main Kariakoo Market complex had reached 90percent on official accounts, billed at 28bn/- altogether.

Home Affairs deputy minister Daniel Sillo said back in August that the government plans to install 6,500 surveillance cameras, starting with four major cities, to enhance public security.

The cameras would be installed in public gathering areas such as markets, industrial zones and key business zones in Dar es Salaam, Arusha, Mwanza and Dodoma.

He linked the planned installations with the Safe Cities Project, where the United Nations housing development agency, UN Habitat, says in an online entry that the Safer Cities programme was implementing effective urban safety programmes in 77 cities and towns in 24 countries around the world.