The paradigm shift from the technocratic to participatory planning approach in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) occurred from the 1980s to the 1990s. The paradigm shift led to a review of legal frameworks to suit the resolution. However, so far, little research has been carried on to assess whether the available legal frameworks are enough to foster stakeholder participation in master planning and implementation processes in SSA, particularly Tanzania.
The study used a qualitative research approach and a case study strategy. Specifically, this study reviewed the paradigm shift of legal frameworks in Tanzania, legal frameworks' advocacy on stakeholder participation in the planning process, compliance with legal frameworks by officials, constraints of legal frameworks and official awareness, understanding and views regarding the legal frameworks in Tanzania. Document review and official interviews were the chief methods of data collection. The data was then analysed using content analysis.
The findings revealed that the fundamental legal frameworks fostering the urban planning sector in Tanzania promote stakeholder participation. However, the majority of legal frameworks are outdated and do not reflect the dynamic needs of the citizens. This is allied to official interviews that the legal frameworks in Tanzania are ineffective. One of the prominent unresolved challenges reported is a power imbalance amongst stakeholders in the planning process. Besides, there is a lack of practical information to guide the process and ineffective compliance with the Urban Planning Act No. 8 of 2007 by the City Council of Dodoma and task force officials during the preparation of the 2019 Dodoma master plan.
This study promotes inclusive planning in master planning and implementation processes in cities of SSA. A lack of honest and inclusive planning has been among the prominent factors for the failure of physical plans, particularly master plans in SSA. Currently, the legal frameworks in Tanzania advocate for stakeholder participation, albeit they do not guarantee inclusive planning, particularly for the local community, which requires substantial reforms. Therefore, this study is important for policymakers and practitioners to review the available legal frameworks and allow honest and inclusive planning.
This study presents how the outdated legal frameworks impact effective stakeholder participation in the Tanzania master planning process. Dodoma, the national capital city of Tanzania, was used as a case study to add its specificity and depth. Fundamentally, this paper provides both a new analytical lens and a new dataset. The previous studies slightly documented how the principal legal frameworks failed to guide stakeholder participation in Tanzania. Many studies have generally documented the deficiencies of legal frameworks in guiding physical planning in Tanzania, but do not dwell on the impact of the stakeholder participation. Besides, this study has narrated a new dataset, particularly the recently (2025) prepared legal frameworks by the government, which were not previously documented. Moreover, deploying extensive document review and official interviews as chief data collection methods differentiates this study from past studies. Furthermore, this study makes a theoretical contribution to the Sherry Arnstein Ladder of Citizen Participation and Communicative and Collaborative Planning theory on power-sharing amongst stakeholders. This study has revealed that the deficiencies in the legal frameworks ineffectively warrant genuine power-sharing in the planning and decision-making processes. Lack of power-sharing counters the advocacy of a model and theory which assumes that power should not be used to influence the outcomes. Besides, this paper practically contributes to global and local sustainable planning practices, particularly on the importance and need of having legal frameworks that promote inclusive planning. Promoting inclusive planning is an effective way of implementing the Sustainable Development Goal No.11. Amongst other factors, the effective implementation of the SDG No. 11 depends on robust legal frameworks that reflect the dynamic needs of the citizens and ensure power-sharing amongst stakeholders.
