Preparation and implementation of a general planning scheme in Tanzania: Kahama strategic urban development planning framework

General planning schemes are prepared to guide urban development in most cities. Schemes based on master planning have been criticized for their blueprint output and exclusion of development stakeholders in the planning process. Responding to the criticism, some cities have in the last decade prepared schemes based on strategic planning. The output of strategic planning is a dynamic framework for a cityʹs stakeholders to implement their development decisions. Stakeholders’ participation is essential in strategic planning. Whereas the methodology of master planning is well documented, that of strategic planning is not. This case documents the methodology of strategic planning based on the 2000 Kahama Strategic Urban Development Planning Framework in Tanzania. The methodology involved appraising the townʹs profile, agreeing on critical issues, working in taskforces to develop strategies and projects required to address the issues, agreeing on workable strategies and bankable projects, and facilitating implementation of the planning framework. The conclusion is that participatory urban planning through stakeholders’ action planning is practicable and welcome in tackling pressing problems and addressing conflicts of development–environment interactions.