Dar demolition victims turn to JK's land offer

  Poor people are worthless, voiceless, they say

Former President Jakaya Kikwete

VICTIMS of the Mkwajuni Creek demolitions have appealed to the government to adhere to former President Jakaya Kikwete’s order to issue them plots in a planned settlement area arguing that they are not among the beneficiaries of the already issued Mabwepande plots.

 

Former President Kikwete on 14th May 2015 visited the flooded Nyaishozi, Boko-Basihaya and Mkwajuni areas in Kinondoni District Dar es Salaam where he ordered residents living in those areas and especially in the Mkwajuni Creek to voluntarily vacate for their own safety and that the government would provide them with safe plots for settlement. 

 

The demolition victims also deny claims by government officials who suggest that they are among the beneficiaries of plots in Mabwepande on the outskirt of Kinondoni District which were given to the 2012 flood victims.

Interviewed by The Guardian yesterday in the city, Irene Wambura one of the demolition victims implored the fifth government to fulfill former President Jakaya Kikwete’s pledge to give them land.“This is humiliation especially for us women who suffer with our children trying to find shelter and food, it is a pity to see our own government abandon us, we don’t have privacy with our husbands, we now spend the night outside bitten by mosquitoes,” she said.

 

“Poor people are worthless and voiceless in this country, President Magufuli should  say something about what is happening,” she appealed to the President who is yet to comment on the plight of the demolition victims.

 

Another victim, a tearing Sikujua Shabani blamed the authorities for burning down their temporary shelters when they were away. 

“They denied us even the chance to rescue the bit of property we still have,” she cried.

 

Another victim Salim Seba, who found his temporary shelter blazed to ashes, said; “this isn’t fair, it is abuse of power, they once bulldozed my six-roomed-house but thank God I managed to salvage my belongings, but today again they destroyed all that I had worth approximately to 600,000/- and left me with only these clothes am now wearing.”

 

“Where is our humanity, is this our country or we are just illegal immigrants to our nation, why is the government acting so cruel to us,” he went on to lament.

SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN