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End land conflicts
2008-04-13 10:23:11
By Edit
Land conflicts triggered by demolition of houses in some residential neighbourhoods of urban centres, as well as pressure on a given community to vacate its settlement and having it re-located elsewhere, speak volumes of administrative ineptitude, lack of foresight and insensitivity to human feelings.
The victims are bitter because in some cases they are not given advance notice ahead of the demolitions, are awaiting the outcome of court cases related to the issue, or have cause to believe that they are sacrificial lambs for the selfish interests of corrupt wealthy elements.
It is incredible that while mainly poor individuals were clearing snake-infested, heavily forested areas and painstakingly establishing settlements, relevant authorities like land officers were watching without raising any objections.
This translated into approval, further reinforced by state-supported provision of crucial amenities like roads, electricity, water, hospitals, schools and police posts.
The inhabitants are then branded illegitimate at a latter date.
An invisible, invariably wealthy individual pops up and lays claim to the land; or an agenda is pushed through for community-based or national socio-economically beneficial investment on it.
Would-be evictees don`t budge easily, hence the ensuing conflicts, recent illustrative cases being the Tabata Dampo saga in Dar es Salaam`s Ilala District, and the ``ping-pong`` at Kwembe and Kurasini in Kinondoni and Temeke districts, respectively.
Granted, projects like airport and port expansion, as well as construction of additional universities entail acquisition of ideally-located land, which may entail re-locating the present residents.
A rational, humane, and forward-looking approach is pertinent though. Adequate land must be reserved for projected future development, and haphazard development on it blocked.
The expansive University of Dar es Salaam estate is a shining example that shames fire-extinguishing-ambulance response approaches elsewhere.
Where evictions are inevitable, a persuasive approach should be pursued, coupled with reasonable compensations to those affected.
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