CITY COUNCIL SETS SPECIAL AREA FOR TIMBER TRADING

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AfricaPress-Tanzania: DODOMA city authority has set aside trading areas for timber traders after they were issued relocation notice by private owners of business premises they acquired.

Most of timber traders within the city centre operate around the Jamhuri stadium in private rented premises whose owners have since told them to vacate the area.

City Executive Director, Joseph Mafuru said the authority has set aside trading grounds at Kizota and Nzuguni wards for the traders, saying the aim is to end disturbance that faces them.

“Since timber traders were ordered to vacate their business areas, I have therefore directed the relevant officers to hurriedly set aside the places for them” he said, adding that currently timbers are sold randomly around the stadium.

He explained that within three months from now the traders will be stationed at the permanent trading areas. He said the city authority has already discussed the matter with them. He said the authorities aim at having a well-planned city which generates own revenues and make sure its people are involved in authorised business activities.

One of the traders, Vera Ngamale called on the city authority to relocate all timber traders in the city to the designated areas once everything is in place in order to boost business as customers will have a common place.

“All traders should be removed from the city centre and buyers be told of the specific places to get timber” she said, adding that by so doing it will be possible for the authority to get rightful revenues.

In December, 2020, the Regional Commissioner, Dr Binilith Mahenge expressed satisfaction with the pace of construction going on in various areas in Dodoma Region, but has demanded the City Council to embark on fixing the necessary infrastructure.

Dr Mahenge expressed the satisfaction after visiting various areas of investments, including Nala, Mahungu, Michese, Mkalama and Iyumbu on the outskirts of the city. He said the construction was progressing well but there were still infrastructure challenges in the new settlements.

“The city should issue building permits only to areas which have already been developed with the necessary infrastructure,” he said.

During his trip to Nala IFM, the area set for small industries, residential and commercial settlements, Dr Mahenge said the area will also host the Institute of Finance Management (IFM) and the Institute for Rural Development Planning campus.

Dodoma City Director Joseph Mafuru said that the area seats on 5,610 acres in which 5.3bn/- was used to compensate the villagers, noting that 7,500 plots were surveyed and mapped, in which 1,600 building permits for the area have so far been issued.

“Now we want to open road infrastructure networks in this area. We have the machinery ready for the job,” he said.

Mafuru said in Michese area, 2,062 plots have been surveyed and over 300 building permits have been issued.

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