Residents of Tazara Maganga flats in Dar es Salaam demand fair access in communal land use
What you need to know:
- The developer, who has purchased most of the apartments, demolished the bar to create parking space for his trucks, leading to an uproar among the remaining residents.
Dar es Salaam. A land use dispute between the residents of the former Tazara Maganga flats in Dar es Salaam and Easy Network has escalated following the recent demolition of Image Bar.
The developer, who has purchased most of the apartments, demolished the bar to create parking space for his trucks, leading to an uproar among the remaining residents.
The owners of the bar, along with other residents who have not yet sold their flats, argue that while the apartments were sold, the land plus other social amenities remain a communal property.
Residents claim their communal rights are being trampled, highlighting deteriorating infrastructure and demanding justice in a standoff that’s turning the once peaceful neighbourhood into a battleground.
“We all have the right to use the available space and it’s unjust for one person to monopolise what is meant to be communal,” said a resident from Block C, who wished to remain anonymous.
Ms Rose Mwape Mapalala, a resident of Block B, highlighted that the redevelopment has negatively impacted the area’s water and sewage systems, which were crucial for the 14 blocks.
“This area has become uninhabitable due to the broken sewage system resulting from the redevelopment. Previously, there were no restrictions on how residents used the available space,” Ms Mapalala said.
Meanwhile construction work was ongoing with a giant perimeter wall being erected by the developers.
Mr Ali Mbarak, Easy Network’s estate manager, without stating the status of the development, told The Citizen that the dispute over the “communal space” is being addressed by a commission that was established by the Temeke District Commissioner.
“The committee, which includes representatives from various government agencies, is working to resolve the issues affecting the residents of this area, so I can speak any further,” Mr Mbarak said.
Mr Shaban Mtulya, chairman of Njaro Street, attributed the dispute to the change in ownership.
“The local government authorities were not involved in the ownership transfer. However, given the dispute, we had to step in to prevent further issues,” Mr. Mtulya said.
He believes that the commission formed by the District Commissioner will provide solutions that will allow for peaceful coexistence.
In 2003, Tazara began selling houses to employees who were residing in the flats with lowest priced, a one-bedroomed apartment going for Sh1.8 million.
The quarters included seven blocks with 24 apartments each and an additional seven blocks with 12 apartments each, totaling 252 apartments.
The sale offered two payment options: employees could choose salary deductions over six years (72 months) or make a one-time cash payment.
Upon completion of payment the occupants were given a unit sale agreement which confirmed them as the new owners of the respective flats.
It was after this sale that the sitting tenants began to sell what was now their properties with the main motivation being the offer put on the table, in most cases too good to resist.
