Traders displaced to pave the way for construction of the new Mnarani Market in Loliondo will be given priority when business spaces are allocated after the project is completed, Kibaha Municipal Mayor Dr Mawazo Nicas has said.
The assurance seeks to address concerns among traders who were moved from the project site and have been uncertain about whether they will be able to secure stalls and other trading spaces in the new market.
Dr Nicas gave the assurance during a meeting with leaders of Mnarani Market traders, who presented a number of challenges facing them, including the allocation of business spaces once the modern market is completed.
He said the affected traders should not fear being left out, noting that the municipal authorities had already reached an agreement with them and had their names on record.
According to Dr Nicas, the traders will still be required to apply for business spaces through the TAUS system when applications are opened, but their previous presence at the site will give them priority over new applicants.
“You will also be required to apply through the TAUS system like other applicants. However, you will be given priority because you were removed from your trading areas to pave the way for this major development project,” he said.
He said municipal officials would subsequently verify the applicants' details, including their names and photographs, before allocating the available stalls and business spaces.
Dr Nicas cited the strategic Kongowe project as an example of a similar arrangement, saying traders who had been removed from their former business areas to allow construction to proceed were later prioritised when the project was completed.
He said the approach was aimed at balancing urban development with the need to protect the livelihoods of traders affected by public projects.
The clarification was welcomed by Mnarani Market chairman Mohamedi Mnembwe, who said uncertainty over access to business spaces had been a major concern among traders.
Mr Mnembwe said many traders had feared that they would lose their businesses permanently after being relocated to allow construction of the new market.
“We had serious concerns about whether we would get business spaces after the new market is completed. The mayor's assurance that we will be given priority has eased those fears,” he said.
He said traders were now more confident about their future and would wait for the formal application process through the TAUS system.
Construction of the modern Mnarani Market is currently about 30 per cent complete.
The new facility is expected to provide more organised trading spaces and accommodate a larger number of traders from Loliondo and surrounding areas.
The project also comes as local authorities seek to improve market infrastructure and create a more organised environment for small businesses while reducing disruptions associated with informal trading spaces.