This archive report was first published on 24 October 2019.
On October 24, 2019, Tanzania's Dar es Salaam region authorities arrested four Chinese contractors for slow progress on state-funded construction projects.
The contractors, employed by two companies, were working on a canal and a road section in Dar es Salaam.
Abubakar Kunenge, executive secretary of the Dar es Salaam region, stated that the governor, Paul Makonda, ordered the arrest to serve as an example to other businesses.
According to Kunenge, the four contractors will spend each night at the central police station and supervise the works every morning until Makonda decides the speed of work is sufficient.
President John Magufuli's government has been known for taking summary measures against foreign companies it considers unfair, including breaking or renegotiating contracts, and cracking down on various groups.
