Simu 2000 Market Erupts in Chaos as Machinga Traders Strike Against DART Workshop Plans - Dar es Salaam, July 8, 2024. Photo: Courtesy
By Adonis Byemelwa
Dar es Salaam: Hardly four
days after traders met with the Dar es Salaam Regional Commissioner to resolve
their dispute, much controversy has arisen from his remarks aimed at building
peace between the entrepreneurs and the government.
The statements by the Regional
Commissioner, Albert Chalamila, have been met with mixed reactions. Many market
traders and listeners accused Chalamila of belittling them and demeaning their
dignity.
Speaking at different times with
this newspaper, some traders alleged that the regional boss was alleged to have
been intoxicated during the meeting. Others believed his use of forceful and
mocking language stemmed from his position as a presidential appointee who
doesn’t need to seek votes from citizens.
During his speech on July 13,
2024, Chalamila threatened some traders who voiced opposition to the
government’s request for them to vacate the site for the construction of the
Dar es Salaam Rapid Transit (Dart) bus garage. He warned that he could remove opponents
of the project and deal with them according to the law.
One of the traders threatened
with arrest was the traders' spokesperson, Idd Athuman Ramadhani. Ramadhani
explained that asking traders to vacate the area was akin to putting them in a
noose since the alternative location offered lacked financial circulation.
He noted that they had already
built their stalls and taken loans, so evicting them would devastate their
livelihoods. He added that if the government aimed to collect taxes, the sheer
number of traders could contribute over 3 billion shillings annually.
In his speech, Chalamila
criticized the traders for being disrespectful and lacking discipline towards
leaders, asserting that he would not allow Dar es Salaam to be disrupted by
unruly individuals.
"You chased away the Ubungo
District Commissioner Hassan Bomboko from doing his job. This is unacceptable.
The law must be respected... no one has immunity here, I can remove all of you,
and you won’t do anything," The RC said in a clip that has spread across
social media.
However, the traders denied
chasing away the District Commissioner, explaining that they were frustrated by
his lack of action despite being called upon three times to resolve the
dispute.
“Bomboko had nothing new to
offer. He had been called many times and ignored us. When he finally came, we
felt he had no good intentions,” said Lilian Ngilisho, a trader of household
items at Simu 200 market.
Dar RC Chalamila Addresses Simu 2000 Market - July 13, 2024.
Photo: Courtesy
Ngilisho expressed that leaders
like Chalamila should not be given such positions as they lack wisdom and
compassion in conflict resolution, approaching matters with arrogance and
threats.
According to Ngilisho, some
female traders were in tears following the eviction decision, including Rose
Ndosi, who received a call about her brother's death. Despite her grief,
Chalamila mocked her, saying she had no reason to cry over her business as the
government had already decided.
"You can be moved far away,
even to Vingunguti, and if the government needs that place, you will still be
moved. You do not have permanent ownership; you are temporary occupants...
petty traders should work for only three years and then move elsewhere,"
Chalamila stated without clarifying the law requiring traders to do so.
Speaking to reporters on July
15, 2024, the Chairman of the market improvement committee, Mussa Ndile, said
they had already submitted their complaints about Chalamila’s remarks to the
Minister of Trade, Suleiman Jafo.
The minister directed them to
submit their documents and suggestions officially to seek a resolution. Mussa
explained that the Simu 200 traders are going through tough times as the
dispute resolution officials come from different ministries.
"Look, Chalamila handles
our dispute, speaking on behalf of the President’s Office for Regional
Administration and Local Government (PO-RALG), while we traders feel the Trade
Minister understands our plight better. We believe the President, representing
the central government, has the power to intervene and resolve this conflict
peacefully," said Mussa.
The market leadership submitted
three proposals to Minister Jafo, including reducing the area intended for the
Dart garage to 30,000 square meters, allowing traders to retain a substantial
business area.
Another suggestion was for Dart
to construct the garage above the market by building a slab, allowing vehicle
repair activities to continue above while the market and bus stand remain
below. The final proposal was to relocate the Dart garage far from the city
center, as the law prohibits many garages in urban areas.
"I don't see the logic in
insisting all Dart buses be repaired in Ubungo when there is ample space behind
the Tanzania Communication Regulatory Authority (TCRA) building. How long will
we keep being moved?" quipped Ndile.
He added that it was time for
the government to respect traders as it does other organizations without
threats and intimidation, as amicable solutions exist.
“We are surrounded by numerous
colleges and a bus stand here. We see money circulating. Moving us to a less
busy area will hurt us, and if the government insists, small traders will move
back to Ubungo and cause more chaos,” said Iddi Ramadhani.
Small traders, known as
"wamachinga," expressed their loss of faith in the Ubungo District
Commissioner, Hassan Bomboko, for handling their challenges. The traders
accused Bomboko of making promises without implementing any solutions despite
their repeated complaints.
On Monday, July 8, 2024, the
traders decided to close their businesses and stage a protest, demanding that
the Ubungo Municipality reverse its decision to hand over the market area to
the Dar Rapid Transit Agency (Dart).
This decision was announced on
July 4, 2024, after a municipal council meeting approved Dart to build its
garage on the site. In response to the July 7 protest, Dar es Salaam Regional
Commissioner Albert Chalamila promised to meet with the traders to discuss the
matter.
Speaking today, July 13, 2024,
after visiting the market, Chalamila stated that it is impossible to stop the
project at its current stage. He emphasized the need for traders to provide
input on how the project can proceed without harming their businesses.
The traders stated that they no
longer want sweet words from leaders but practical decisions that protect their
business interests. Stella Buberwa, a clothing trader at the market, criticized
Chalamila for his inappropriate remarks during their distress, interpreting
them as a sign of arrogance and power intoxication by some public leaders.
Buberwa's sentiments were echoed
by Lilian Ngilisho, who called for all party and government leaders to condemn
Chalamila's harmful remarks, especially as they anticipate a visit from the CCM
Publicity, Ideology, and Training Secretary, Amosi Makala.
"We are educated people who
have resorted to economic self-reliance. Article 8 of the Constitution of the
United Republic of Tanzania requires that state authority and governance be
derived from the people. When a leader fails to listen to us, it violates the
rule of law.
The Dart project is important
but not as crucial as our livelihoods. Many bus lanes are still empty, people
are suffering, and more are being built. I don't see the urgency of this
project to the extent of disrupting our activities," said David Mushi, a
salon owner at the market.