District, council leaders blamed over unplanned settlements

Prof Anna Tibaijuka, Minister of Lands, Housing and Human Settlement Development

District and council leaders have been cited and blamed for their failure to take appropriate steps to stem the increase in unplanned settlements in the country.

 

This  was revealed in Dar  es Salaam on Monday by  Minister of Lands, Housing and Human Settlement Development Prof Anna Tibaijuka during the celebrations to mark  the World  Habitat  Day  which is  marked on the  first Monday of October  each year. 

 

 “Our district and council leaders are to blame for  this problem because  they do not take appropriate actions to curb it… they are  the ones  who in most cases come across people  building without observing the rules and regulations  but they remain silent,” Tibaijuka  said.

 

She said when the government orders these structures to be pulled down owners raise complaints and demand high compensations thus putting them at loggerheads with the government.

 

Prof Tibaijuka however noted that although it was difficult to avoid slums in the country, still more efforts were needed to ensure that they don’t increase.

 

For his part, UN Habitat country representative, Philemon Mutashubirwa, said about one billion people around the world now live in city slums and their numbers are set to double over the next 25 years. 

 

He said UN-Habitat will continue working with the government, local authorities, non-governmental organisations, the private sector, community groups and other UN agencies, especially UNEP– to improve the environmental sustainability of cities and ensure that the poor are given the right to the city.

 

He said while it may be difficult to overcome relative poverty, it is perfectly possible to ensure that the poor are provided with adequate shelter and basic services and that this can be realised by avoiding building random settlements.

 

Meanwhile interviews conducted by The Guardian to a cross- section of Dar es Salaam residents revealed that majority of the people are not satisfied with the policies governing land ownership, urban planning, adequate housing and security of tenure.

 

Speaking to the Guardian on Monday some Dar es Salaam residents were of the view that  laws governing land ownership and management should be reviewed.

 

Mariam Lukele a resident of Magomeni-Mapipa said “I don’t see the reason of marking this day  while  some houses  are being demolished  on the ground that people have invaded open spaces”.

SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN