By Friday Simbaya, Iringa
TRADERS have called on the Government to ensure that business premises at the new Kihesa Market in Iringa Municipality are offered at affordable rates, enabling them to meet the costs, while those who operated at the old market are given priority when the new facility is completed.
The appeal was made on Saturday by the former Kihesa Market chairperson, Mr Subira Mohamed, during an inspection of development projects by the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Local Authorities Accounts (LAAC), led by its chairperson, Addo Shaibu.
Mohamed said the Government should consider traders’ financial capacity, particularly those who depended on the old market for their livelihoods before they were relocated to pave the way for the construction of the new facility.
“It is important for the Government to consider traders’ financial capacity, particularly those who depended on the market to earn a living before they were relocated to pave the way for the construction of the new market,” Mohamed said.
He stressed that giving the former traders priority would enable them to resume their economic activities and continue earning a living once construction was completed.
Responding to the concerns, Iringa Municipal Director Zaina Mlawa said traders who operated at the old market had been allocated alternative trading spaces while awaiting completion of the new facility.
Ms Mlawa said the existing arrangement provided for the former traders to be given priority when the new market became operational.
“The arrangement is that once construction of the market is completed, traders who operated there previously will be given priority,” she said.
LAAC Stresses Quality of Development Projects
The LAAC committee urged project supervisors and implementers to ensure that development projects were completed on time, met the required quality standards and addressed the needs of local communities.
It also emphasised the importance of incorporating the needs of people with disabilities into the design and implementation of development projects.
This includes providing accessible infrastructure and parking facilities that can be used conveniently by people with different needs.
In addition, the committee called on project implementers to take precautions against the potential effects of heavy rainfall, including weather-related risks associated with El Niño, to protect infrastructure and prevent challenges that could delay projects or compromise construction quality.
Committee chairperson Mr Addo Shaibu said development projects should serve the public interest, increase local government authorities’ revenue and deliver the intended benefits to communities.
“The committee continues to emphasise that effective project supervision is essential to ensuring that public funds are used for their intended purposes and that projects are completed on time so that citizens can begin to benefit from them,” Mr Shaibu said.
Projects Worth 20.258bn/- Inspected
During the visit, the committee inspected several development projects being implemented in Iringa Municipality, including the construction of the modern Ngelewala abattoir, which involves the installation of modern slaughtering equipment for cattle and sheep.
Other projects inspected included the construction of Kihesa Market under the Tanzania Cities Transforming Infrastructure and Competitiveness (TACTIC) Project, the construction of Mkimbizi Road under the same programme, and a commercial building for Community Welfare, financed through the municipal council’s own-source revenue.
The 5.3-kilometre Mkimbizi Road is being constructed by contractor DIMETOCLASA REAL HOPE.
The committee commended the progress made on the projects but stressed the need to ensure that construction was completed on schedule and in accordance with the required standards.
It also highlighted the importance of ensuring that the relevant authorities were adequately prepared to manage and maintain the infrastructure once completed, so that it could deliver the intended services and benefits to the public.
Earlier, Iringa Regional Commissioner Kheri James, presenting a briefing on the projects visited by the committee, said projects being implemented under TACTIC were worth 20.258bn/-.
He said the investment covered several projects, including Kihesa Market, an engineering office and the 5.3-kilometre Mkimbizi Road.
Mr James said implementation of the project had reached more than 45 per cent.
He added that, upon completion, Kihesa Market would accommodate approximately 500 traders and become a model development project in Iringa Municipality.
“Essentially, once completed, our Kihesa Market project will accommodate 500 traders and become a model project in Iringa Municipality,” Mr James said.
He added that the municipality was also implementing other development projects, including commercial buildings in the Kitanzini area and the construction of a dispensary using its own-source revenue.