AfricaPress-Tanzania: MINISTER for Lands, Housing and Human Settlement Development, William Lukuvi has resolved a land dispute between residents of Chasimba, Chatembo and Chachui in Kinondoni District and Tanzania Portland Cement Company Limited (TPCC) which has lasted for years.
However, the cement manufacturing company has agreed to give back to the residents a total of 224.8 hectares out of 922.55 hectares of land. Decisions to give back the land to the residents followed government interventions into a dispute which was officially filed at the Court of Appeal in 2015.
Speaking to the resident on March 13th 2021, the minister informed that TPCC has agreed to give the residents a piece of land worth 60bn/-. He insisted that the government is determined to ensure justice to Tanzanians.
“Decisions not to demolish the residents’ houses doesn’t contravene the court ruling; it was meant to create a win-win situation,” said Lukuvi noting each of the residents will now be subjected to pay 6,400/- per square kilometer.
He said each of the residents will be provided with relevant documents indicating the amount of money she/he is supposed to pay.
“The piece of land you invaded belongs to the cement factory, I have been working to resolve this conflict for five years,” he added.
Minister Lukuvi directed Kinondoni District Commissioner, Sipora Liana and her team to visit the area and allocate land which will be used for construction of dispensaries and schools. He said that residents at the areas would require social services near their homes.
He warned the residents to stop invading the factory land insisting to take measures against anyone who will illegally erect structures within the restricted factory area.
Kinondoni District Commissioner, Daniel Chongolo commended the minister for finding a solution to land disputes within the district. He said Kinondoni was leading with the highest number of land disputes (75 percent), but most of them have been resolved.
Chasimba resident, Semeni Charles thanked the government for finding a solution to the land dispute insisting they were living under fears of being relocated.
“We are thankful to President John Magufuli because we will now own the land legally. Our village has a total of 932 households and we have been living at the area since 2008,” she stated.
According to her, they filed a case at the Court of Appeal in 2015, but the court ruled in favour of the cement factory and their houses were to be demolished. She said the land conflict started in 2008 when the factory management accused the residents of invading an area measuring 224.8 hectares.
