Tanroads axe hangs over Morogoro Road reserve encroachers

IDDY MWEMA

KIMARA Stopover residents and casual labourers were yesterday voluntarily demolishing their buildings to remove valuables before Tanroads’ deadline for them to leave the area expires next week. The move is done to pave the way for the upgrading of Morogoro Road in Dar es Salaam.(Photo by Mohamed Mambo)

TANZANIA National Roads Agency (Tanroads) will next week descend upon and demolish all buildings falling within the 121.5 metres stretch on both sides of Morogoro Road between Kimara Stop Over and Kibamba, after the expiry of the extended deadline for residents to vacate the area.

Dar es Salaam Regional Manager, Eng Julius Ndyamukama told the ‘Daily News on Saturday’ in Dar es Salaam, yesterday, that there will be no more extension of the deadline.

The announcement comes nearly three months after owners of the buildings and structures along Morogoro Road were directed to voluntary demolish their structures to pave the way for the construction of a six-lane express way intended to reduce congestion in the commercial city of Dar es Salaam.

Eng Ndyamukama said enough time was given to residents to takedown their structures by themselves before the agency execute the exercise.

“Tanroads regional office is the one responsible with the demolishing exercise and all residents are aware of it.

Consultations with other government agencies are being finalised for smooth undertaking of the operation next week. “….initially, we gave them 30-day notice which was extended by two weeks that expires on Monday (next week), therefore we will carry-out the exercise as planned,” he emphasised.

The ‘Daily News on Saturday’ witnessed some preliminary demolishing activities at Kimara area and presence of some equipment, when asked to comment on the matter, Eng Ndyamukama said the existence of the bulldozers at the area is a sign that the exercise will kick-off soon.

He said that his office did not receive any court injunction to stop the exercise, adding that the activity will be conducted as planned.

He urged residents to use the remaining time wisely to save what they can from their buildings and voluntarily vacate the area before the exercise starts. Eng Ndyamukama maintained that there will be no compensation because the structures were erected along the road reserve.

A score of owners of the structures earmarked for demolish were seen voluntarily pulling down their buildings to ‘save what they could’ before authorities descend on them.

However, recreation places such as bars and other entertainment places remained closed, while iron sheets of some religious buildings were also being removed, a sign that victims were getting ready for the D-day.

Tanzania Electric Supply Company Limited (Tanesco) technicians who were also at the site were seen assisting residents to safely cutoff power.

The 57-year-old Asha Rajabu, who owns a business premise which doubles as residence said voluntary demolition was the best option, adding that she has been able to remove construction materials of her house including windows, iron sheets and bricks that she can use when constructing another one.

“The city bulldozers will leave only heaps of rubble which will be of no use,” she said.

Before coming into power in 2015, President John Magufuli promised to expand the road in question into six lanes from the current two to ease traffic jams in the country’s commercial city.