Over 100 people left homeless

Dar es Salaam. Over 100 people have been left without shelter at Somangila Ward, Kigamboni area after their houses were demolished to pave the way for a housing scheme for army and police officers.

The housing project at Amani Gomvu, which is now in its first phase of construction, is being implemented by the Avic Coastal Land Development Co. Ltd.

Some of the residents who are homeless told journalists recently that they are now were being sheltered in their neighbours’ houses.

One of the victims, Mr Yusuph Hamidu, said that the their houses were pulled down after they had refused to receive compensation, which most people had rejected because it was not satisfactory.

“We are here legally, why should someone come and take our land without our consent? Where is that rule of law they so much talk about?” he queried.

“An evaluation of our lands, houses and plantations was made in 2007 and payment of Sh700,000 per hectare was made from 2011, but some of us refused to take it because the amount is small...now they have decided to use force,” he said.

The pulling down of the houses in the area was done last month at around 4am when people were reportedly still asleep.

“We were surprised and shocked to see bulldozers pulling down our houses and our properties destroyed at night,” narrated Mr Hamidu.

After his three houses, built on the same plot, were demolished, Mr Hamidu, his wife and two children are now accommodated in a temporary shelter they put up using old empty bags.

Another victim, Ms Hadija Said (41), said that with her 11 children, she was yet to find a decent shelter and she slept in her neighbour’s kitchen.

“My eight-bed-room house was demolished, I lost many properties, now we are sleeping in a kitchen... refugees’ lives are now better than ours because at least they can live in tents,” she said.

However, the residents have already sought a court injunction to stop the investor from implementing the project.

Last week, the Land Division of the High Court served the Avic Coast Land Development Company Ltd a stop order on the implementation of the project.

Somangila Ward councillor, Ms Aisha Mpangila, refused to comment on the matter and referred it to the Temeke District commissioner.

Though, the DC could not be immediately reached, a letter from the director of Temeke Municipality dated last year, directed the local government in the area to relocate the residents to pave the way for the project.

According to the letter, the residents were supposed to leave the land by last May.