Govt 'defeats' anti-Kigamboni Bridge force

BY QUEENTER MAWINDA

4th January 2014

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President Kikwete

The Government has enforced eviction of four defiant Kigamboni residents who were resisting the construction of Kigamboni Bridge, The Guardian has learnt

The eviction has ended long standing saga between the government and the four who challenged the order to vacate their premises, thereby preventing smooth evaluation of the actual value of their properties for compensation.

 

In mid December last year the four, Adia Jumaa, Abbas Sabukuru and Faiz Twaha and advocate Shamsudini Ahmed were removed by government order to allow the construction of the proposed bridge.The four were claiming that proper rules and procedures were not followed in the evaluation process including setting out meetings to discuss compensations for land and price of food crops.

 

However, Ministry of Lands, Housing and Human Settlement Chief Evaluator Adam Yusuph dismissed the claims maintaining that the government followed all the necessary evaluation and compensation procedures.

 

Meanwhile, Engineer Karim Mataka of the National Social Security Fund (NSSF), tasked to build the bridge, complained that the delay in the construction would further affect the project progress in terms of costs. 

 

Adam said the area was very important for the government and public at large, as it would ease up transport snags, create jobs and attract more investments and tourists. 

 

According to him, the evaluation of properties of the four residents was completed last December 20 and that they were now waiting for their compensation. 

 

The contested area, covering 3929.146 metres, has been cleared.  The completion of the bridge was expected to be complete in January 2015.

 

Launching the bridge on December 2012, President Kikwete said the facility would be important for tourism as the area it will serve is endowed with pristine beaches and ample land for hotel and accommodation infrastructural development 

 

The project’s significance is to connect a proposed Kigamboni satellite city and the rest parts of the country. The satellite city is envisaged to accommodate 450,000 people.  Currently, Kigamboni is inhabited by 45,000 people.

  

The cable stayed bridge (680 metres long and 27.5 metres wide) and its approach roads (2.5 kilometres) are constructed at bitumen standard. 

The bride has six lanes and two sidewalks.

  

SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN