Queries on eviction of Machingas in Kariakoo mounted-Survey

SOME people have appreciated the operation currently being undertaken by Ilala militiamen in their forceful eviction of petty traders popularly known as ‘Machingas’ who clogged main streets around Kariakoo business complex in Dar es Salaam city, saying that the move has rendered free movements in areas which were formerly impassable. The survey carried out last week witnessed scores of city militiamen in their active operation of evicting petty traders being carried out along Tandamti Street, although some people condemned the exercise saying it is being conducted with cruelty. In an interview with this paper, quite a number of people have appreciated the move dubbed, “Cleaning the city” with few who felt the pinch of the exercises, showed sympathy to the affected petty traders. Speaking while in grief stricken mood, Suzana Mwombeki a resident of Kibaha Mwendapole said that, the approach used by the militiamen to attack traders is in a harsh manner bearing the fact that, traders have their valuable merchandise which some gets destroyed and never compensated for the losses incurred. Suzana who is in the city to fulfill a business appointment, could not restrain her tears as they flowed down her chicks when she took a glimpse as militiamen as they were harassing petty traders without using peaceful ways to relocate them.Elaborating more, she witnessed a single woman with her breastfeeding young baby strapped on her back being harassed at the scene without mercy after the soldiers had invaded her and began picking up her business items which she had spread on the ground. Lucky petty traders from the same scene swiftly managed to escape their sight. Suzana who is among the less feared women was terrified at that time when she saw such a large group of militiamen who when they had approached the area began to stamp on the tomatoes and some fruits of the fleeing petty traders while they took others along with them to unknown destination. Narrating the ordeal, she stood in great amazement while watching the drama and wondered in disbelief without knowing what to do over what was happening at such unlikely time of the day,  Tears from her was an indication that she felt sympathetic with the woman whom she regarded as being among the low income people struggling for a daily bread for the entire family which for that day might have probably ended up sleeping with empty stomach. This is a terrified situation that has caused an endless debate among the people around who used to witness the drama whenever the two parties come into confrontation while in abrupt operation in three Dar es Salaam municipal councils of Ilala, Temeke and Kinondoni.  Under the prevailing situation, most people have been saying that lack of employment is what takes petty traders into such extremes. For a new comer in Dar es Salaam city it would be a great surprise when walking down the main streets and happen to encounter with such a fracas, and probably would dare to criticize the offending group who doesn’t want to comply with the laid down rules and regulations altogether. Jacob Onesmo who is a business man in Morogoro town narrated his experience to the writer of this news in favour of the city militiamen. According to him, petty traders are always at fault for disobeying city orders which requires them to vacate from trading in unrestricted areas especially within the road reserve. 

He noted that, whenever he arrives in Dar es Salaam city, he has been experiencing some difficulties while trying to force his movements through if in a hurry at Kariakoo whenever he goes for shopping of his business goods there. Onesmo who trades in ICT tools and other electronic gadgets used to order a bulk purchase of various kinds of assortments at Kariakoo main shopping centre in the city. He noted that, the area is so overcrowded with people all the time throughout the day. Ostracizing the plight of the area, he says that, he sometimes encounters with lots of difficulties mostly when in need of transport to carry his purchased goods due to the fact that, all streets in the area are clogged and busy with petty business activities that it sometimes become difficult to pass through. Efforts to remove petty traders in the city has become an uphill task indeed, an exercise which sometimes ended up in violence when the city militiamen confronts petty traders, says one shopkeeper who identified himself by one name Shomari. However, he suggested that, ‘the operation like this one should be planned with successful strategic plans and properly organized, otherwise hatred among them would continue unabated.  He suggested that, the authorities from the local government to national level should deliberate on the possible ways on how they could empower small scale traders by giving them special areas to conduct their activities.  Shomari had doubts that how comes that, such operations should involve confiscation of vendors’ merchandise and other properties and where are they actually taken to. Have their owners given ample time to reclaim them later on, he queried. Contacted for comment over the matter, the Municipal council legal officer, Mashauri Musimu said that, the confiscated goods are reserved in a room at the ward office and sometimes in court awaiting owners to come and claim them.  However, he denied the fact that such goods are distributed among workers of the council as widely speculated by people in the street. He clarified that, once owners appears in court are normally fined for disobedience after which are handed back their properties with strict order not to repeat conducting business in restricted areas. He further said that, the funny thing is that, most traders do not appear in court to meet such penalties which are normally imposed as fines between Shj. 50,000/- and Sh. 100,000/-, and instead resort to boycott their goods. He further clarified that, the perishable goods such as tomatoes, fruits and those likely to go bad are taken to government children’s centres (approved school) for consumption. For none perishable goods, he said are publicly auctioned. The Ilala Municipal Public Relations Officer, Tabu Shaibu said that, the move by the municipality is intact as it aim to remove vendors who have been inconveniencing movements of motor vehicles and people as most of them have invaded road reserve. According to her, the operation will continue as usual to make sure that such traders do not conduct their businesses within the road reserve areas as stipulated in local government laws, otherwise the authorities would continue arresting them and their properties. He says that, the continued presence of these traders in these areas is against the law and that it was legal to confiscate their properties and tendered them as physical evidences before the court while on trial. Commenting over the harassments caused during the operation, the Dar es Salaam Special Police Zone Commander, ACP Sulleiman Kova said that, the police deals with criminal offences and ensures the safety of the citizens in the country. But, he continued and said that if such operation would endanger petty traders in one way or another, then the police would intervene for the interest of maintaining safety and noted that, since the operations started the police have not been involved so much.

Poor sanitation denounces Dar city mega status

While the State government continues its efforts towards making Dar es Salaam city to achieve its mega status dream for the state, poor sanitation continues to blight the city’s drive towards this achievement, the survey over te situation can authoritatively report.  A random survey carried out by this paper in some streets in Kariakoo, the main business and shopping complex and at the city centre reveals a shocking, yet almost amusing fact about the continued bad state of the environment which is littered with uncollected filth. The survey has also discovered that apart from uncollected filth, in some areas sewer water could be seen flowing along the street giving out horrible smell to passersby, and this is due to the dilapidated underground sewer pipes whose infrastructures are worn out. In some places the main sewer pipes are leaking and give out bad smell of human excreta which need immediate replacement. Early last week the most visited the mostly affected streets which are so notorious and found the situation is more appalling. The streets visited by this paper early this week are Livingstone and Aggrey streets, Congo and Pemba Street (behind Msimbazi police station) which are located at Kariakoo business complex. Other areas include Msimbazi Street, Nango’mbe street overlooking the gate leading to the underground Kariakoo market, and Zanaki street near Haidery Plaza building at the heart of the Dar es Salaam city centre. A spot check in these areas has discovered that, ordinary people including petty traders who conduct their daily business activities are seriously inconvenienced with the regular obnoxious odour emitting from the dilapidated underground sewer water pipes.

Petty traders conducting their businesses in unauthorized areas.

Interviewed residents around the area are disappointed with the situation which to some extent poses to their health hazards especially during rainy seasons when the situation becomes intolerable. According to experts, exposed open trenches pose a great threat to people’s health. This is responsible for a number of illnesses and diseases and may be the source of some generic problems resulting as one of the most deprived condition for human health. Contacted for comments, the spokesperson of the Ilala Municipal Council Tabu Shaibu who admitted the prevailing situation and put it clear that, repairs of underground water pipes is entirely the responsibility of the Dar es Salaam Water Supply Authority (DAWASCO). She claimed that, the water authority seem to ignore their responsibility thus prompting many city residents think that the replacement of such worn out infrastructure is executed by Ilala Municipal council whereas is not the case. Clarifying over the matter mid this week she said that, ‘there is a long standing controversy between her municipal council and the city water authority over their failure an aspect that renders their efforts to make the city clean. Speaking over the matter, the DAWASCO’s Public Relations Officer Evalasting Lyaro said that, his company is trying all it can in order to remedy the situation which she admitted to be causing inconvenienceds to the people around. She noted that, despite efforts shown by DAWASCO, but the increasing population density is another exacerbating factor that causes the underground sewer water pipes to fail work properly causing a leakage to some of them. She also noted of the continued habit of vandalizing some infrastructures by some unfaithful citizens and that the situation retards the development of the drainage systems for the sewer water in the city. Meanwhile, the three Dar es Salaam Municipal Councils are struggling to control the bulging population density which is increasing at a high rate due to rural migration of people in search of jobs for livelihoods. An official of the National Bureau of Statistics who spoke on condition of anonymity said that, it is estimated that an average of  9 people are entering in Dar ers Salaam city on daily basis, an aspect that is a cause of high congestion causing use of water infrastructure to become congested.  But few people may appreciate the extent of this problem which is fast becoming an epidemic in the state.

Hundreds turns up to pay last respects to a retired army officer

The Minister for Defense and National Service, Dr. Hussein Mwinyi on Friday last week led hundreds of mourners who turned up to pay the last respects to the body of the retired Major General Muhidin Kimaryo who passed away last week at Apollo hospital in India. The occasion which took place at Lugalo Military Hospital on the outskirts of the city of Dar es Salaam, was also attended by the Minister for State in Prime Minister’s Office responsible for Parliamentary Affairs William Lukuvi. Other dignitaries who attended the occasion were retired high ranking army officers who the late Major Gen. Kimaryo worked with during his lifetime before he was appointed to lead government ministries during the first and second phase governments. Among the retired military officers were the former Head of Tanzania People’s Defense Forces (TPDF) General Robert Mboma, and former Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Gideon Sayore, retired Executive Chairman of the Tanzania Commission for AIDS (TACAIDS) Brigadier General Herman Lupogo. Others in the list are former Kagera Regional Commissioner retired Major General Tumainiel Kihwelu and former Dar es Salaam Regional Commissioner, Ambassador Celestine Liundi. Among others on the list were friends, relative’ and well wishers. The casket that carried the body of the late Kimaryo entered into the ground at around 10:05 while being carried shoulder high by six army officers at the rank of Major who marched in a military slow motion fashion and lowered it down on a place which was prepared for it. After that, the Minister for Defense Dr. Mwinyi accompanied by the Minister for State in Prime Ministers’ Office William Lukuvi led mourners who lined up in a single file to pay their last respects. At the end of the occasion, the body was taken to Al-Mamur Masjid mosque in Upanga for a requiem mass and later on was taken to a military air wing base Kj. 603 barrack at Kipawa whereby it was flown to his ancestral home in Moshi for burial services which are scheduled to take place today. Delivering a government message, the defense Minister Dr. Mwinyi described the late Kimaryo as a person who had maintained self respect during his tenure of the office and that the government has appreciated his contribution. 

The Minister for Defense and National Service, Dr. Hussein Mwinyi standing right and the Minister for State in Prime Minister's Office William Kukuvi on  the lest standing in front of the casket wrapped with a national flag bearing the body of the late Major General Muhidini Kimari, this was on Friday last week during the last paying respects of the late Kimario who died on Monday last week and was buried on Sunday in Moshi.

On his part, Minister Lukuvi said when interviewed by the media that, the government has lost a hero who served this nation with all impunity and with high calibre. However, he added that, the late Kimaryo dedicated most of his time and worked tirelessly in the forefront during the struggle for independence of Southern African states. On his part, former TPDF Chief, General Mboma described the late Kimaryo as among the most faithful soldiers who respected all the directives issued by his bosses when he was serving the army.  He also noted that, he is among the first Tanzanian army officers who were sent to Israel for military trainings in 1963 and that, the TPDF will remember his contribution for the establishment of the security unit in the army for which he is the founder.  Another interviewed retired army officer who worked closely with the late Kimaryo was retired Major General Tumainiel Kihwelu who worked with him in various army operations especially during the struggle for independence of Southern African states at Nachingwea, Songea.  He said that, the military base was used for training soldiers of the liberation parties who fought for independence in Southern African countries notably Mozambique, Southern Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe), Namibia, Angola and South Africa. Major Gen. Kihwelu noted that, during the operation to remove Dictator Iddim Amin, (former Ugandan head of State) soldiers who invaded the Kagera Salient, the late was under his command in the front line battle against the dictator between 1978-79. The late Kimaryo has served as a Member of Parliament for Moshi and later was appointed the  Minister in two different portfolios and in different times during the first and second government phase.  He served as a Minister for Home affairs and for defense. Later he was appointed as the director of the Capital Development Authority (CDA) in late 1980s. The authority is charged to look after the development of the new capital Dodoma city

Zimbabwe issues a cheque prize to honour Tanzanian retired army officer

The Zimbabwean government has issued a cheque worth $100,000 (Sh. 160 million) as a token of appreciation to honour a liberation strategist retired Brigadier General Hashim Mbita for his sterling role and dedication during the liberation struggle in Southern African states. This is a fulfillment of a pledge which was earlier made by Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe on 18^th August this year during the 34^th SADC meeting which took place in Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe. During the meeting, President Mugabe being the SADC Chairman conferred Brigadier General Hashim Mbita with the Royal Order of Monomotapa, the highest honour bestowed on him for activists of Zimbabwe and other Southern African countries’ struggle for independence. The cheque was presented by Zimbabwean Ambassador in the country Edzaio Chimonyo to Shella Mbita, the daughter of the Brg Mbitta who received the cheque on behalf of his father on Friday last week in Dar es Salaam in a ceremony which was also attended by Foreign Affairs Minister Benard Membe. In his speech, the Ambassador noted that, it was befitting for his Zimbabwean government as a nation to honour Rtd Brigadier Mbita, a truly7 Pan-Africanist freedom fighter who trained guerrillas and most liberation fighters including himself. However, he appreciated himself through the hands on skills he had attained while he was here in the country during the liberation struggle.  He elaborated on the award Royal Order of  Monomotapa and noted that, this up to date has been awarded to Mwalimu Julius Nyeree, Agostino Neto of Angola, Samora Machel of Mozambique, Seretse Khama of Botswana and Kenneth Kaunda of Zambia. He said the award of honour was given to the Head of African states who were in frontline for their contributions to Zimbabwe’s liberation. 

Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe confers an award to the daughter Shella Mbita on her father Hashim Mbita who dedicated his life during the independence struggle of Southern African countries. This was during the 34th SADC meeting which was held in Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe. On Friday last week in Dar es Salaam, a cheque worth USD 100,000 was issued to a liberation strategist as a token of appreciation to honour his work.

This makes Rtd Gen Hahim Mbita the only non- Head of State to be bestowed such an honour. On his part, the Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Benard Membe said that, the current cordial relations between Tanzania and Zimbabwe are embedded on a firm historical background that stretches back to the struggle of liberation whereby the rtd Brigadier Mbita was the liberation committee Executive Secretary of the then Organization of African Unity (OAU) which was headquartered in Dar es Salaam. He also noted that, Heads of the then freed African States decided to choose Dar ers Salaam, Tanzania to become the headquarter of the liberation movements in 1963 in honour of the father of the nation whose ambition was to have all African states liberated peacefully. During the August SADC meeting, Zimbabwean President Mugabe also inaugurated nine volumes of Mbita’s publications on the genesis of the Southern African liberation. Notably, in attendance were Walter Bgoya, the Managing Director of Mkuki and Nyota Publishers which published the works. President Mugabe said the publications provide a powerful instrument for planning and monitoring the implementation of the regional integration. “It indeed epitomizes our resolve to deepen regional integration and accelerate economic and social transformation in our region in order to attain higher states of development and bring prosperity to our people,’ he said. He said statistics contained in the book enable local and foreign investors to effectively and informatively map out business in the region.

Building materials at DART bus stands are prone to vandalism

As the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project in the country’s commercial city of Dar es Salaam is about to kick off, the infrastructures installed at the newly constructed bus stand facilities for the project along Morogoro Road in the city are prone to vandalism, the survey by the Guardian can establish. A one week survey carried out in some structures along the road has shown that, most of them have been invaded by some youths who have turned them to be their most dwelling places throughout the day taking on siestas and at the same time the facilities provides accommodation for them during night hours. A spot check on Wednesday night this week, found scores of youths who when interviewed claimed to have no homes or rooms in vicinity of the city suburbs and instead have resorted to seek for accommodation in these bus stand structures. This reporter witnessed some broadsheet pieces of boxes torn in parts and spread on the floor used as appropriate beddings for the seemingly life frustrated youths who are homeless in the city of Dar es Salaam. However, the Guardian has discovered that their presence is posing danger of vandalism to some building materials made up of iron, others like wire mesh, water sinks and many if available in these newly constructed State-of-the-art facilities. Some interviewed youths who spoke without knowing were speaking to a news reporter said that, have no enough money to hire a room in the suburb as they are engaged in petty trading activities of some goods at the city centre notably at Kariakoo business hub which gives them minimal profit margin. While some noted that, have moved from Kariakoo area where they used to accommodate themselves in narrow corridors and some on the verandas of big shops, and after having faced with such difficulties have actually appreciated for the large open spaces at these bus stands whose areas are enough to accommodate over 400 people at a time. 

A typical example of some newly constructed Bus stands for RBT in Dar es Salaam as it is seen from above at Ubungo.

“I am a Machinga at Kariakoo main business centre and my earnings are too little that I cannot afford the monthly costs of renting a room in the city’s suburbs, so have found this area is more convenient for the time being” said one youth who could not want to identify himself. Contacted for comments, a spokesperson of the construction company, Strabag Ltd Yahya Mkumba said that, there are a number of cases related to vandalism have already been reported and the police are on the lookout for offenders. He told the Guardian in a telephone interview on Thursday this week that, these cases are related to the missing of some wire mesh, iron water pipes and some other iron made materials from two bus stands which they have handed over to Tanzania Roads Agency (TANROADS). However, he said adding that, police at Magomeni police station are investigating the issue to help net the culprits. However, he noted that, the company is in place to put a fence to beef up security in some bus stands which are still under construction and yet to be handed over, the move is in a bid to suppress intrusion by unauthorized persons. The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Tanzania Roads Agency (TANROADS) Patrick Mfugale said in a telephone interview when contacted for comments over the matter and said that the primary role of the TANROADS was to ensure that, bus stand structures are constructed. However, he continued and said that, for the case of impending vandalism, he directed this reporter to contact the DART officials to get clarification over the matter and switched on his mobile phone. Efforts to contact the Dar es Salaam Rapid Transport (DART) officials hit a snag for when their landline telephone answered the call, the receiver noted that the officials concerned were not present at that time.