NEMC, Kinondoni authorities start demolition of 400 houses
An excavator from the Kinondoni Municipal Council demolishes one of the more than 400 houses that are set to be pulled down at Magomeni and Mkwajuni area along Msimbazi Valley in Dar es Salaam yesterday. The houses were built illegally, according to the Kinondoni Urban planning officer, Dr Charles Mkalawa. PHOTO| SALIM SHAO
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The Kinondoni Urban planning officer, Dr Charles Mkalawa, said the houses which would be demolished are in Kinondoni Hananasifu where 100 of them will be pulled down while 300 others are in Magomeni.
Dar es Salaam. The National Environment Management Council (NEMC) and Kinondoni Municipal Council have started a massive operation to demolish 400 houses built near the Msimbazi River basin.
The Kinondoni Urban planning officer, Dr Charles Mkalawa, said the houses which would be demolished are in Kinondoni Hananasifu where 100 of them will be pulled down while 300 others are in Magomeni.
Scores of people were left wandering in the streets after officials from NEMC and the municipal council started the operation, pulling down several houses at Hananasifu area. Several wananchi whose houses were demolished complained that the authorities were evicting them from the area where they have settled legally since early 1970s.
Mr Hassan Ngonyani, said he was surprised by the authorities’ move because if they have been living there illegally they would not be supplied with electricity as well as water services.
However, Dr Mkalawa said as per the 1972 Dar es Salaam Master Plan the area was declared a prohibited area. According to him, the authority will evict all people who have settled in the Msimbazi River basin.
NEMC legal officer Manchare Suguta warned all residents who have encroached on prohibited areas like river banks, oceans or lake shores to move voluntarily because the council would not rest until all the areas are cleared.
Mr Suguta also told reporters that after clearing the Msimbazi River basin, NEMC would move to Kiziga River in Mbagala to evict all residents who have illegally settled near the river bank.
“This is a sustainable exercise and we will evict all people who have settled near water sources which include rivers, oceans, lakes; we won’t spare anyone even those who are claiming to have permits,” said Mr Suguta.
According to Suguta NEMC doesn’t recognise any building permit in prohibited areas because the country laws do not permit people to settle in those areas.
After Dar es Salaam Mr Suguta said NEMC in collaboration with local governments will conduct the same operations in other regions.
