AfricaPress-Tanzania: The Minister of Lands, Housing and Housing Development, William Lukuvi has concluded a long-running dispute between the people of Chasimba, Chatembo and Chachui area in Bunju and Wazo wards, Kinondoni Municipality and Tanzania Portland Cement Factory after Wazo Hill. of the factory agreeing to release 224.8 hectares out of 922.55 to the public.
The decision to vacate the land stems from the government’s intervention in the dispute in 2015 after receiving complaints from the public and deciding to find a solution based on how best to implement the Court of Appeal’s decision on the dispute.
Speaking to the people of the area yesterday in Dar es Salaam region, Lukuvi said, after lengthy negotiations with the factory management including the factory board, it agreed to release its area worth more than Sh 60 billion to the people.
Minister Lukuvi said, The Fifth Phase Government is focused on defending the weak and thanked President John Magufuli for the decision to defend them and stressed that the decision not to demolish the houses of the people of those areas does not interfere with the decision of the Court of Appeal but aims to benefit both parties. .
He said due to the resolution of the dispute, now every citizen in the area will be required to pay the cost of owning Shs 6,400 per square meter if it is the government’s efforts during the negotiations.
Initially, the owners demanded that citizens pay Sh20,000 per square meter. He said from today, the citizens will be given payment invoices to know the amount they have to pay in the area with three streets Boko, Basiaya and Wazo.
“The area you have invaded has two elements, first the landowners have title deeds and mining licenses and you have prevented the factory from working. I bought the case and did this for five years and I have used all my strength and today I am concluding this issue,” Minister Lukuvi.
Minister Lukuvi instructed the Director of Kinondoni Municipal Council, Sipora Liana and his team to go to the area and inspect the areas required for social service activities such as schools and clinics to start construction as the people of those areas need such services.
Kinondoni District Commissioner Daniel Chongolo thanked Minister Lukuvi for managing and finally resolving the dispute.
Chongolo said due to the hard work done by the land ministry, land disputes in his district have decreased as they were previously leading by 75 percent.
A resident of Chasimba, Semeni Charles thanked the government, especially President Magufuli for defending the weak in this regard and explained that they will now live in peace unlike the past where they did not know their fate.
Initially, 932 residents of the area, in 2008 filed case No. 129 in the Court of Appeal to apply for recognition as the rightful owners of the area. However they lost the case and were ordered to have their houses demolished.
As a result of the resolution of the dispute, the area has acquired 4,000 plots of various sizes and uses as well as road and community services.
Citizens remaining in the area will now be required to pay ownership costs depending on the size of the area.
The Chasimba, Chatembo and Chachui area in Bunju and Wazo wards in Dar es Salaam which was famous for the extraction of limestone and pebbles, entered into a crisis in 2008 due to people invading the factory area. After a review, it was found that a total of 224.8 hectares were invaded.
