|
Building business premises for Dar hawkers commendable
2006-11-01 09:00:59
By Editor
Public opinion has been mixed over the government’s decision to rid Dar es Salaam streets of hawkers and demolish illegal structures in a bid to keep the city clean.
Though the government has remained firm, the hawkers, otherwise known as machinga have no option but transact their businesses in specially designated areas, complaints abound that the zones lack basic amenities like stalls, toilets, water and security besides being far flung from potential customers.
The concerns have however been alleviated by revelations that the government has a long term plan for the small scale entrepreneurs.
News that Dar es Salaam City Council plans to put up a multi-billion-shilling ultra-modern business complex for small scale traders has brought a sigh of relief.
According to the City Mayor Adam Kimbisa, the construction of the four-storey structure is expected to commence end of this year.
Our hope is that this is not one of those government projects, which fail to take off from the planning stage.
The faster the project is implemented the better for the economy and the hawkers.
The fact that over 10,000 business persons can be housed together with all the requisite basic amenities like toilets, water and even a banking institution to offer credit facilities, needs support.
However, the fact that the 10bn/- required for the construction will be drawn from the workers’ coffers, great care ought to be exercised to ensure that funds are invested in a viable project.
We also subscribe that the relevant authorities offer subsidy to ensure the cost of doing business at the complex is affordable to hawkers.
The authorities too should consider extending financial assistance to the small entrepreneurs if the entire project is to succeed.
Finally, care should be taken when enlisting the hawkers who would do business from the complex. Such a project might be used by greedy individuals to unscrupulously make money out of the hawkers.
|
