Prime Minister Mwigulu Nchemba has resolved a 28-year-old land dispute between two Dar es Salaam residents, bringing an end to a long-running ownership wrangle in Goba.
The dispute between Alia Shariff and Devotha Delfina Elisei dates back to 1998 and centred on Plot 202, one of four adjoining plots in Goba.
The settlement is part of Dr Nchemba’s efforts to use mediation to resolve longstanding disputes affecting citizens while ensuring that court decisions and land laws are respected.
Shariff appealed to the Prime Minister in a letter dated January 20, 2026, asking for government intervention after years of unsuccessful attempts to resolve the dispute.
She told the Prime Minister that her family had claimed ownership of the disputed property since 1998.
In response, Dr Nchemba assigned a team of officials from his office to investigate the matter and facilitate reconciliation between the two sides.
The team was led by Tryphone Mkolokoti, Assistant to the Prime Minister responsible for Relations, Civil Society and Non-Governmental Organisations, and Senso Magessa, Assistant to the Prime Minister for Land Matters.
It worked with Dar es Salaam Assistant Regional Land Commissioner Shukuruni Kyando, Kinondoni land officials and local leaders from Goba.
The team conducted reconciliation meetings, reviewed ownership documents and visited the disputed site. Surveyors were also brought in to verify the boundaries of Plots 202, 203, 204 and 205.
The investigation established that Plot 202, measuring more than 3,000 square metres, was at the heart of the dispute, with Elisei entitled to 1,000 square metres in accordance with the relevant court decisions.
Following the mediation, the two parties agreed to respect existing court judgments, orders and decisions and to follow the procedures set by land authorities in implementing their respective rights.
They also agreed to refrain from actions that could trigger another dispute.
The Dar es Salaam Regional Commissioner’s Office has been directed to ensure that the Kinondoni District Land Office completes, without unnecessary delay, the technical procedures for subdividing Plot 202 in accordance with the court decisions and the settlement reached by the parties.
The reconciliation agreement was signed at the disputed site in Goba on Saturday, August 15, 2026, in the presence of land officials, Prime Minister’s Office representatives, local leaders and residents.
Mr Kyando also used the occasion to educate residents on procedures for cancelling land titles and obtaining new ones where a dispute resolution results in a property being divided between multiple owners.
The Goba settlement highlights the potential of mediation in resolving land disputes that have remained in the courts or communities for years, particularly where parties are willing to accept lawful decisions and follow established procedures.
Dr Nchemba has directed his team of experts to continue assisting citizens with longstanding grievances through mediation, guided by court decisions, laws, regulations and principles of fairness.
The approach has also encouraged citizens to submit their complaints to the Prime Minister’s Office and raise grievances during his public meetings.
