MSIMBAZI Street in Dar es Salaam has continued to be occupied by petty traders (Wamachinga) despite orders issued by the Ilala District authorities that they should relocate their businesses.
The traders who have now become a
nuisance to motorists and pedestrians, have obstructed the walking
pavements along the famous street, though they claim that they have no
alternative or place to do their businesses.
Along the Street where part of the Bus
Rapid Transport project lies, has been occupied by the traders who have
continued to be road hazard causing unnecessary jam to pedestrians and
vehicles that have to use the street.
The BRT project includes construction of
20.9 kilometres special trunk road from Kimara terminal to Kivukoni
area, Msimbazi road from Fire to Kariakoo-Gerezani area and a part of
Kawawa Road from Magomeni to Morocco junction.
It is anticipated that by 2025, Dar es
Salaam will have 11.5 million citizens and this, according to experts,
calls for serious infrastructure improvement.
Ongoing phase one works of the project
envisions reducing traffic jams and congestion in the city. However, the
Ilala District Commissioner, Mr Raymond Mushi said that the petty
traders will soon be removed from the area.
“We have already communicated with the
petty traders in the area giving them ultimatum that they should vacate
the street,” he said.
He said that up to now there were no
statistics available indicating the number of those who have occupied
the streets. “We have not received any official communication from these
traders requesting us to allocate them space to do their business,” he
said.
He added that most of these traders had
shifted from other locations where they were doing business, so it is
upon them to return where they came from.
Another trader who identified himself as Ahmed Salum said that he was waiting for the official order to vacate the place.
“We are aware that there is an order
issued by the district authorities that we should vacate the place, but
we would like to be advised where to locate and carry on with our
business,” said one of the traders at the Msimbazi round about, Mr Kingo
Juma.
“It is clear that this area is not meant
for business, but our demands have not been met so far, which is to
give us allocation where we should do business,” said Salum.
Speaking to this paper, the owner of an
electronic shop selling phones and other accessories said that it was
unfortunate that the petty traders were meddling with their business
without any intervention.
“Imagine some of these guys are selling
the same product, which they are not paying tax while we are subjected
to taxpaying,” he claimed.
He said that this was not fair
competition since it is creating difficulties to their business, making
them pay tax while their businesses are not protected from petty traders
who have intruded everywhere.
But some business attendants in such
shops said that the petty traders were a blessing in disguise to their
businesses. “Look here our shops have not been able to carry all the
accessories that are in demand, and in order not to lose business once a
customer purchases an item and the accessory is not available they come
to our rescue,” Said Hamida Salum employed in one of the electronic
shops.
Some petty traders said that they were
not unified in their demands, since the groups are divided into small
factions that specialise in some electronic accessories.
A technician for smart phones, Sanja
Kimu said that for example those who are selling accessories are also in
small groups which make such petty traders not cohesive.
But pedestrians said that it was
difficult to move on the pavements and sometimes one has to walk long
distance to reach a point where Msimbazi street could have served as a
short-cut.
“I am totally disgusted by the way these
traders block the entrance of my residence leave alone the risk of some
thieves taking advantage of this congestion,” Juma Adam lamented.
But some car owners said that it was
extremely dangerous to drive along the Msimbazi stretch. “I just do not
know what the municipal council is doing to address the issue of petty
traders who have intruded our areas and are obstructing our car
movements,” said Vinod Khan
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