DIT Songwe develops local-made materials for construction

A European Union-funded research project at the Dar es Salaam Institute of Technology’s Songwe Campus is helping Tanzanian researchers identify and promote locally available natural materials for construction, a step that could reduce building costs and strengthen the country’s research capacity.

The project is supported through the EU’s ERASMUS programme with a grant of €87,681.15. It aims to assess the quality of natural materials, including soil, and ensure they are used appropriately in the construction sector. According to DIT Songwe Campus Director, Eng Dr Frank Clement Lujaji, the funds have been used to build researchers’ skills and purchase specialised equipment for testing construction materials.

Lujaji spoke during a visit to the campus by the Minister for Education, Science and Technology, Prof Adolf Mkenda. The project is being implemented by DIT in collaboration with Ardhi University and European academic institutions. The director said the investment had strengthened the campus’s ability to conduct scientific and technological research.

The project has already started to produce results. A research article has been published, staff capacity has improved, and DIT students have been involved in practical research activities. Those activities are expected to give students hands-on experience in solving real construction challenges.

The research is also part of efforts to carry out directives issued by Prof Mkenda in August 2024, when he first visited the campus. Those directives were aimed at strengthening the campus’s development and increasing its contribution to research and technology. They included renaming DIT Myunga Campus to DIT Songwe Campus to reflect the name of the region, improving infrastructure, and encouraging closer ties with major mining companies operating in the area.

In line with the mining-sector directive, DIT has engaged Shanta Gold, Helium One and Mamba Minerals. All three companies have expressed willingness to collaborate with the institution. Such partnerships are significant because Songwe Region is an area of growing mineral exploration and mining activity. Shanta Gold is among the established gold producers in Tanzania, while Helium One is involved in helium exploration in the country. Cooperation with these firms could create opportunities for joint research, student attachments and practical training in extractive industries.

The focus on natural construction materials comes at a time when Tanzania is experiencing rapid urbanisation and rising demand for housing, schools, roads and other public infrastructure. Builders face high costs for conventional materials like cement and steel. Researchers believe locally sourced materials, especially soil-based alternatives, could offer more affordable and environmentally sustainable options once their quality is properly verified.

Ardhi University, DIT’s partner in the project, is a well-known Tanzanian institution specialising in land, housing and construction studies. Its participation adds academic depth to the initiative and helps connect engineering research with broader issues of settlement development and housing needs. DIT Songwe Campus, located near the border town of Tunduma, is one of the institute’s newer campuses, and the project marks an important step in its growth beyond the main Dar es Salaam campus.

The ERASMUS programme, funded by the European Union, supports education, training and research cooperation between Europe and partner countries. The support for DIT Songwe Campus reflects a wider effort to strengthen technical institutions in Africa and help them address local economic priorities.

With new equipment, trained staff and emerging private-sector partnerships, DIT Songwe Campus is positioning itself as a useful contributor to Tanzania’s construction and mining sectors. The project offers an example of how targeted research funding can be used to turn local resources into practical, long-term benefits.