IN what could be described as a push for speedy growth of newly established Kigamboni District, President John Magufuli yesterday issued seven-day ultimatum for responsible authorities to address two major challenges.
They are a dubious contract to construct three roads with two kilometres length each connecting Mwalimu Nyerere Bridge and Kigamboni municipality’s process to possess 750 hectares of land.
The President also expressed concern over the slow pace of construction of a modern market at the cost 13bn/-, for the new district council.
He raised concern when he inaugurated new office buildings for the Kigamboni Dictrict Commissioner (DC) and another office building for the Municipal Council.
The construction of the DC’s office building cost 1.6bn/- and the council’s one cost 5.2bn/-. On the road section connecting the bridge towards Ferry and Kibada areas, Dr Magufuli faulted the contract.
According to the contract, initial costs for the project on the three sections of road near the bridge was over 21bn/- but due to variations, it rose to 36bn/- He issued a seven-day timeframe within which the Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office responsible for Policy, Parliamentary Affairs, Labour, Employment, Youth and the Disabled, Ms Jenista Mhagama, and the National Social Security Fund (NSSF) to sit with the contractor for revising the contract.
The Mwalimu Nyerere bridge project was constructed and ran by NSSF.”If we implement this contract, it means we will build each one kilometre of the road for 6bn/-.
You have to sit with the contractor because the government isn’t ready to pay 36bn/- to construct 6 kilometres for three roads with 2 kilometes each,” Dr Magufuli stated, adding: “If the contractor is rigid you should deploy the Tanroads (Tanzania National Roads Agency) to implement the project, and we will then meet the current contractor in court,” he told the minister.
The President further directed the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Human Settlements Development to allocate 750 hectares of land located at Gezaulole area to the municipality.
The president faulted the plan by Kigamboni local authorities to construct a morgue at the cost of 500m/- .
“ I have heard of this plan and if it is indeed true, then you must cancel it because such an amount can build a health centre,” he remarked.
The land, on which the inaugurated two office buildings have been built, was initially owned by the National Agricultural and Food Corporation (Nafco).
When Dr Magufuli came to power, he put the land under the government. “Give the land to the council so that it can use it for development plans,” he said, as he advised the council to allocate part of it for the construction of staff housing.
He remarked that was improper for council staff to reside faraway while the council has land on which it can build houses for them.
He told the minister of State in the President’s Office (Regional Administration and Local Governments), Mr Selemani Jafo to find 2bn/- from his docket for the construction of those houses.
In the meantime, the staff of the municipality will be enjoying free housing for a year in houses of the NSSF located a few kilometres from the municipal council building.
Earlier, the legislator for the area, Dr Faustine Ndugulile, raised the issue of delayed construction of the roads connecting the Mwalimu Nyerere Bridge, saying it was one of the big problems facing the residents.
Meanwhile, President Magufuli has cautioned the public against establishing residential homes in floodprone areas, ordering individuals with houses in such hazardous areas to vacate as quickly as possible or face the consequences of Mother Nature.
The President sounded the warning yesterday in Kigamboni District in Dar es Salaam, when he presided over the function to inaugurate the offices for Kigamboni District Commissioner and the District Council director.
The Head of State said it was imperative for individuals who built houses in flood-prone areas to voluntarily vacate as his government would not provide any relief aid to them should they face the wrath of Mother Nature.
He said it was inconceivable to find some people establishing homes in such hazardous areas with full knowledge of the impending risks.
He said the government has several times been directing people to vacate from flood-prone areas as a precaution against disasters.
Tens of people were recently killed by floods in some regions due to ongoing downpours, and President Magufuli recently sent condolence messages to relatives and families of the deceased.
Some of the affected regions were Kilimanjaro and Lindi. Following the deaths, the President told Kilimanjaro Regional Commissioner Anna Mghwira and Lindi Regional Commissioner Godfrey Zambi as well as other RCs whose regions have been affected by the heavy rainfall to send his condolences to affected families on his behalf.
During the function, President Magufuli appealed to members of the public to use valleys for agricultural activities.
He argued that it was ideal to turn the valleys into productive areas for agriculture and boost economies. His appeal comes at a time when Tanzanians in different parts of the country suffer following floods as results of ongoing heavy rain falls.
“Let’s use these rains for cultivating crops. It would be surprising to hear people complaining over hunger while they did not cultivate during rains,” he remarked.
He encouraged all Tanzanians across the country to work hard in the agriculture sector, noting that Tanzania has a big market for agricultural products in the East Africa Region and Southern African Development Community (SADC).
enya remained the leading destination and major source of Tanzania’s intra- EAC exports, followed by U ganda.
Tanzania’s major exports to the region were beans, maize grain, sisal rope, tea and mosquito nets, and the major imports were medicine and soap.
