WELCOME TO BUKOBA SHOPPING MALL CONSTRUCTION STALLED

THE Bukoba Central Market construction project and shopping centre is facing another challenge, which might delay its implementation that was earlier scheduled to be completed before the end of this year.

It all emerged as the Bukoba Municipal Economist, Mr Richard Mihayo, briefed CCM Secretary General, Mr Abdulrahman Kinana, on plans to construct the threestorey market building at a cost of more than 11bn/-.

Mr Mihayo said as he presented the report on the construction of the central market and Kashai markets, that the envisaged project was planned to house several business activities.

But in response to the report, Mr Kinana warned that the proposed facility might turn out to be white elephant leading to the municipality suffering heavy losses instead.

“I don’t buy the idea of building the three-storey building to be used as a market. Experience has shown that the returns on investment for such a project might turn into a deadly nightmare,” he said.

He pointed out an example of the Machinga Complex in Dar es Salaam, which has failed to repay the loan it took to erect the buildings meant to accommodate petty traders in the city.

According to Mr Kinana, it was impossible for buyers to climb ladders in search of commodities while they could simply buy them at the basement of the facility.

He advised the project manager to revisit the business plan to avoid misuse of the money earmarked to be invested in the project, of which Mr Mihayo agreed in principle.

The ruling party boss cautioned the relocation of the market from the municipality’s centre should be carefully done so that businessmen are not inconvenienced in the process.

Mr Kinana was against plans to relocate hawkers several kilometres from the business centres, making it difficult for them to be reached by their customers.

“It is not wise to relocate these people 20 kilometres from the town centres since doing so simply means killing their businesses and rendering them penniless.

Please make sure the relocation programme doesn’t affect more than 10,000 business individuals depending on this market,” he said.

To avoid uncalled for conflicts, Mr Kinana directed all parties to be thoroughly involved in the construction programmes of the markets, as well as consulting them before deciding to have them evacuated to the new premises.

The implementation of the Bukoba Central Market had delayed than earlier planned as a result of the disputes among some councilors, some being against the project while others proposed it.

Mr Mihayo reported that initially, the project was to start in January 2013 and set for completion this year - targeting among others, to increase revenue for the municipality.

However, the cost of the project was likely to almost double as it keeps on delaying thanks to the Tanzania Investment Bank (TIB), which approved the 11bn/- loan.