Dar es Salaam Regional Commissioner Albert Chalamila has prohibited the use of bouncers in handling property disputes after reports of violence at a contested house in Msasani Beach.
The decision follows disturbing footage shared on September 23, showing bouncers using excessive force to evict tenants linked to Alice Paskali Haule, widow of the late Justice Lugaibula.
The house, located on plot number 891, is at the centre of a dispute between Haule and businessman Mohamed Mustafa Yusufali, who claims to have purchased the property from the late Justice Lugaibula.
Visiting the site on September 24, Mr Chalamila condemned the actions of the bouncers, saying such practices undermine the rule of law.
He directed that, with immediate effect, only the police should handle evictions, under the supervision of court brokers.
“The use of bouncers to remove people from disputed properties is unacceptable. Police officers, who are professionally trained, must be the only ones to carry out such sensitive duties,” he said.
He also ordered that the disputed house remain unused by either party until the case is resolved. To address the matter, Kinondoni District Commissioner Saad Mtambule has been instructed to form a committee involving police officers, land officials, and other experts. Both parties have been summoned to appear before Mr Chalamila on September 26.
Mrs Haule maintains that she and her late husband legally purchased the house in 2008, but says she has faced harassment from bouncers claiming Yusufali is the rightful owner.
“My husband borrowed money from him, but we never sold our house,” she said.
On the other hand, Hajja Mungula, speaking on behalf of Mr Yusufali who is currently abroad, insisted that he bought the house in 2011 for Sh262 million, adding that Mrs Haule had affixed her thumbprint on the sale documents.
Dar es Salaam Assistant Land Commissioner Shukrani Kyando confirmed that ownership records had changed hands several times, but the current title deed lists Yusufali as the owner.
DC Mtambule also noted the rising challenge of untrained bouncers being misused in property disputes within the district.