Kariakoo Market

The management of Kariakoo Market Corporation (KMC) in Dar es Salaam is finalizing talks with the government on the construction of a new international market that would cost 42bn/-.

Speaking to The Guardian in an exclusive interview yesterday, KMC General Manager Florens Seiya said the market management has already contracted Tedet/TVG Europe from the European Union (EU) to work on the project.

Under the agreement Tedet/TVG is required to furnish all the necessary information before gets a go ahead from the government to carry out the project.

“We are still waiting for the government’s blessing and when that comes the project will commence immediately,” he said.
He said the apartment project will comprise a 22 storey building with a parking space for cars and it will accommodate more than 4,000 traders.

“The new site will be located at Karikaoo market at the area known as ‘Soko Dogo la Mabati’ and its design will depend on the agreement between us and the investor,” he said.
Asked on the complaints raised by some of the traders at the market over the depreciating present market infrastructure, Seiya said:

“Yes this problem exists, the reason behind this is that, the market has never had any major maintenance since its construction in 1974,” he said.
However, Seiya was optimistic that the investor would support them in maintaining other areas which have been declared part of the National Museum.

Seiya said for now the market’s management does not have enough funds to do the maintenance on its own as the government does not give them subsidy.
“We do not collect enough money that can enable us to stand on our own; at the same time we need to pay salaries to about 130 employees,” he said.