Compensation claims slowdown Chake- Wete road construction

The construction of the Chake- Wete Road has slowed down due to the fact that some people who are set to be affected by the project are not on the compensation list, it has been revealed.

Payments by the Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar on houses earmarked for demolition kicked off in February and that was when the anomaly was discovered.

Speaking to The Citizen, the MECCO’s project manager Eng. Nassor Ramadhani, said they have been forced to build the road in phases to save time after residents claimed that they were not in the compensation list.

He added that according to the agreement the 22km road is supposed to be completed in 30 months.

However, according to him another challenge emerged that has contributed to an increase of 30 per cent on the original size project, that has forced them to demolish hills and do away with unwanted clay soil.

"Clay soil is unfit for road construction and we have to bring in fresh soil from other areas," he said.

In regard to compensation, he said some house and farm owners have already been paid, but the houses are yet to be demolished and this is due to the ongoing Holy Month of Ramadhan.

According to Ramadhani the project which is set to cost Sh23 billion has been financed by the African Development Bank and Saudi Arabia's Arab Bank for Economic Development (BADEA).

"So far over 5,800 tonnes of tar is ready including 7,000 tonnes of aggregate needed for the project's first phase," he said.

For their part, residents of Mzambarau Village who are complaining of not being paid compensation, told this paper at different times that their houses were twice verified but when it came for payment, they were surprised to find out that they were not found in the list.

Nassor All Hamad, a Mzambarau Village resident said there are houses along the same street but payment was paid to house No 682, while Houses Nos 651 and 652 were not in the list, even though "we were told that our houses were also lined up for demolition."

Speaking on the issue Patani Mosque Chairman, Kombo Shavua said the mosque, No. 654 was also listed in the demolition list but he was surprised to find out that in the final list for payment of compensation it was missing, and called on the government to address the issue.