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Kariakoo Market management comes under attack
2007-09-20 10:04:58
By Pascal Shao
The management of Kariakoo Market Corporation in Dar es Salaam on Monday came under stinging attack by traders who accused them of abusing their authority by treating the market as if it were their personal property.
The attack came when Vice President Dr Mohamed Shein paid a visit to the market during his tour of Ilala District markets of Buguruni, Kariakoo and Ferry in the city.
A fish monger at the market, Muharami Mketa, lamented that the management had more than doubled the market levy from the previous 740,000/- to 2.2m/- per year, creating a huge financial burden for the traders.
He said the number of fish mongers at the market had plummeted to 96 due to the high fees imposed on them. He, however, could not disclose the previous number of fish dealers before the alleged levy hike.
``The management now treats the market as if it were their personal property. They have threatened to kick out whoever fails to pay the said fees,`` Mketa said.
Omar Simba, a member of the Chimbuchimbu porters` association at the market, said the management had hiked fees for his association from the previous 720,000/- to 6.9m/- per year.
``We can`t afford to pay such a high amount. We are here to provide service and not to conduct business, so why should we pay such an amount? Help us, rescue us,`` pleaded Simba to the vice-president.
Another trader, Ibrahim Haruna, told Dr Shein that last financial year the market management had promised to upgrade small businesspeople by building stretchers and tents, a promise it had never fulfilled.
``Traders at this market use their own money to but tents and stretchers. We wonder what came of the funds allocated for that purpose,`` he said.
Haruna charged that the management abused its authority by conducting market affairs the way they pleased.
Earlier, a trader at the Ferry fish market, Nazir Nassor, had attributed most of the problems besetting the market to poor management.
Responding to allegations of power abuse, Kariakoo Market Corporation director Kuboja Ng`ungu said the management was forced to hike fees to offset ever-increasing operational costs, adding that the market did not get any subsidy from the government or the city council.
``The management has a number of responsibilities to fulfill. We have an account where all the funds are deposited.
However, traders don`t want to contribute to their own development while market fees are the only source of revenue,`` he said.
Ng`ungu further said the management normally held meetings to discuss problems with representatives of the business community, adding, ``Unfortunately, the leaders never tell their members what transpire at the meetings.``
Dr. Shein was on a three-day inspection tour of markets in Dar es Salaam region with a view to assessing the food situation.
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