VIDEO of 'Bomoabomoa': 200 residential houses pulled down in Dar es Salaam

More than 200 residential houses and other structures constructed in the railway line reserve area from the city centre to Pugu Station were demolished yesterday to give way for the construction of a Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) line.

The demolition exercise, which was implemented by the state-owned Reli Assets Holding Company (RAHCO), was accompanied by concerns from members of the public that it has been conducted prior to the date stated in the notice.

Among the structures which were demolished included a Buguruni Flour Mill Factory owned by Said Salim Bakheresa Company Limited and a number of residential houses.

According to RAHCO Public Relations Officer (PRO), Ms Catherine Moshi, the exercise is carried out to evict invaders along the railway line reserve area from the City Centre to Pugu Station.

"All necessary steps including issuance of several public notices was done since April, last year. The notices were published and aired on various media outlets and it was stated that no one would receive any compensation," said Ms Moshi. She pointed out that the railway reserve area, according to Railway Law, is 15 metres from the centre of the line stretched on both sides of the line in urban centres and 30 metres in rural areas.

"The third notice involved surveying the structures and ordering the owners to voluntarily demolish their structures. "When the exercise approached Vingunguti and Pugu there was a contradiction as the areas were not situated within the city.

A meeting was convened involving RAHCO, the Ministry of Transport, the Attorney General's Office and the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Human Settlements," observed the PRO. She said they had to refer to the master plan which identified 30 metres railway line reserve areas which prompted the issuance of a 30-days notice issued in February, this year.

"We went door to door notifying the residents to move 30 metres away from the reserve areas and on Friday, I supervised a public announcement regarding the kick start of the demolition exercise," she noted.

Ms Moshi observed that the exercise has incurred three court injunctions from Eagle Wing Building and Total Petrol Station which have not yet been demolished. The PRO remarked that soon the laying of the foundation stone of the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) line is expected to take place at the end of this month.

One victim, Mr Ramadhan Mbwana, a resident of Buguruni- Mnyamani, confirmed to having received all the issued notices. “What has surprised us was the February 16 (this year) notice accompanied by a 30 metres survey contrary to the first one of July, last year,” said Ramadhan.

He said that with help from their local government leaders they formed a committee to follow up on the issue. “The committee went to RAHCO and met an official by the name of Vicky who notified them that their legal officer was out of office but upon his return they would receive clarification on the matter,” he remarked.

He, however, noted that the matter was taken to the Chairman of the Commission of Human Rights and Good Governance, Mr Bahame Nyanduga, who wrote a letter to RAHCO directing them to clarify on what was used to arrive to the 30 metres within seven days from March 9, this year.

“We were summoned to present documentation as part of evidence for the matter to be dealt with by the Commission,” he said. Another resident, Asia Said expressed her dissatisfaction regarding the exercise, claiming that the matter is implemented to mistreat them.

“I have a child with disabilities at home and my brother got a stroke after getting the notice for that matter he is bed ridden, where I am going to take these people?” queried Said.

Mr Nyanduga confirmed that his office received concerns from the residents of Buguruni- Mnyamani and communicated with RAHCO who alleged that the area is yet to be worked on.

“We had ordered an investigation of the matter and demanded that both parties present documentation of the issue to our office,” said Mr Nyanduga.

He said the aim was to authenticate the matter as the issue is still in the office and RAHCO was to appear with evidence.

“Carrying out the demolition exercise while the matter is still under investigation is aggression and it’s termed as a violation against human rights,” he said.

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