Masaki residents to go to court
Sunday February 07, 2010
THE dispute involving development of a portion of Masaki Beach has taken a new turn after some residents threatened to petition the decision in court.
Masaki local government leader, Ms Janet Mbene told the 'Daily News' at the weekend that she would mobilise residents in the area to go to court and contest the move by Kinondoni Municipal Council to portion out the beach to developers.
"I have received support from Masaki residents who have expressed desire to go to court in contest to the move," Ms Mbene said from Arusha. "I am on way to Dar es Salaam and the first thing I will do is talk to cell leaders and their representatives on the way forward," she said.
The chairperson of the Masaki local government council said they would first discuss the matter with the municipal council and later, if they fail, the next option would be to go to court.
Ms Mbene said the area has 6,000 residents, who include international organisations; Diplomatic Missions and Tanzanians who are against the proposed development of the beach.
Another resident who sent his views via our online said, the government must make sure that Dar es Salaam residents have a public beach.
"The developers have the right to develop the land, but have no right to stop the public from using the beach.
"Even in Mombasa Bamburi Beach there is a chunk of land and beach for the public which was set aside by the late President Jomo Kenyatta. No one touches that land and the same must be reserved for Dar es Salaam residents."
The Acting Director of Environment, Mr Richard Muyungi, urged Kinondoni Authorities to set aside beach areas for public use instead of privatizing all the beaches.
He said most of the beach structures were built illegally before the new environment Act, but from now on the Directorate was keen on making sure that Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is conducted before any development is done.
The beach area between Sea Cliff and Golden Tulip hotels at Masaki in Dar es Salaam has been apportioned to six developers, some of whom proceeded to clear the sites without obtaining clearance that their projects are environmentally friendly as required by law.
The National Environmental Management Council (NEMC) issued a stop order early last week on any development until the developers submitted EIA reports for approval by the council.
The firms allowed to develop the area by the Kinondoni Municipal Council include Sea Breeze and Drive In Cinema Ltd, Commodity Traders Ltd, Wellworth Hotel and Lodges, Professional Cleaners, Red & Black Enterprises and Centrally Cinemax to create recreational facilities.