Dar guards disperse slum dwellers at gun point

Ilala Municipal guards yesterday dispersed a crowd of furious residents of Charambe in West Upanga along Msimbazi river valley in Dar es Salaam by firing in the air after they resisted the demolishing exercise of their houses.

The fired bullet meant to pave the way for the demolition of houses built in the controversial river`s washbasin.

The exercise was carried by municipal guards and city officials deployed to demolish all houses built at the Msimbazi river valley.

Municipal law enforcers were allegedly forced to use extra force to restore peace and order after the residents mobilised themselves to oppose the demolition exercise saying it was a violation of human rights.

While the exercise was still on, villagers armed with stones and other small weapons stormed the municipal guards prompting the law enforcers to fire in the air to quell down the situation.

Municipal guards were then required to use batons to restore order at which several arrests were made.

A cross-section of Charambe residents interviewed said that they had not been informed over the exercise or else they could have vacated the area earlier.

`Municipal army men have no mercy on us. They do whatever they think is right for them without taking into consideration our basic human rights. Where should we go now with these kids,` asked a dismayed Mwajuma Abdallah, a mother of four.

A thorough investigation carried by The Guardian on the scene of the incident showed that the exercise targeted on demolishing all unmarked houses.

Unmarked houses are all those built after government authorities had conducted a special exercise and marked those to be demolished.

Contacted for comment, village Chairman Mohamedi Bendera said he had no information over the exercise despite being a village leader.

He described the exercise as a personal interest of some few municipal officers who disregard the plight of poor Charambe residents.

Bendera, a professional lawyer, said the area has been sold to two prominent businessmen of Asian origin under an agreement of 99 years and that the vacation order is allegedly out of pressure from them.

Efforts to reach Ilala Municipal authorities to comment on the matter proved futile as all of them were said to be attending a meeting outside municipal offices.

Charambe village lies on the northern side of Msimbazi basin, a flood prone area.

The government has for many years ordered its residents to vacate but in vain.