Hai’s Kwa Sadala Market in ‘very pathetic condition’

DEUS NGOWI in Kilimanjaro

Kilimanjaro Regional Commissioner (RC), Mr Saidi Mecky Sadiki.

THE famous Kwa Sadala Market needs major renovation of its infrastructure, review of memorandum of understanding between the agent operating it and Hai District Council as well as calling for clean-up, stakeholders have said.

Kilimanjaro Regional Commissioner (RC), Mr Said Meck Sadiki has directed the district council authorities to immediately start rehabilitation of the infrastructures and clean up of the premises to enable businessmen operate their businesses in healthy surroundings.

RC Sadiki who looked irritated by the filthy surroundings said there was no reason why traders should place their goods on the ground while at the same time a lot of garbage was left without being cleaned up.

He said the market is important, as it serves several regions in the country, hence action need to be taken promptly. “The market is very important because it serves many regions in the country.

District council should start renovation soon and I would not be surprised if I hear that an outbreak of cholera in Kilimanjaro and in other regions has its source here at Kwa Sadala. This is because a lot of goods are transported from here,” said the RC.

Mr Sadiki issued a directive to authorities, to stop with immediate effect from collecting tax from people who procure goods at the market.

He said such people are not trading at the market so are not supposed to pay tax and furthermore taxes in regard to the goods are paid by sellers at the market.

Engineer Fredy Kweka, speaking on behalf of Hai District Executive Director conceded that the market was in filthy condition and promised that by the end of the month the council will have started to fix the infrastructure.

Mwanga District Commissioner (DC), Mr Gelasius Byakanwa said the district council should review the contract and memorandum of understanding it entered with the agent running the market.

He expressed his concern that the income the council gets is inconsistent with what is actually collected at the market. He said for a whole month, the agent pays the Hai District Council a mere 4m/- , while collections for the same period of time is handsomely huge, hence the percent going to the government should be bigger.

The newly appointed DC enquired about the agent, but the name was not made availabl