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.
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