Hassan Magulumali
Dar es Salaam Regional Commissioner Albert Chalamila has given the National Social Security Fund (NSSF) and other stakeholders one week to find a lasting solution to a long-running land dispute involving residents of Toangoma in Temeke District.
Chalamila issued the directive during a public meeting with residents of Toangoma, where he listened to concerns from residents, NSSF representatives and officials from the Office of the Commissioner for Lands.
After hearing from all sides, Chalamila said he was satisfied that the disputed land legally belongs to NSSF. However, he said efforts should now focus on finding a solution that takes into account the concerns and financial circumstances of the affected residents.
The residents had requested NSSF to reduce the price of the land from the current rates of Sh15,000 per square metre in Malela and Sh25,000 per square metre in Mwapemba to Sh5,000 per square metre.
They also appealed for an extension of the payment period, saying the three-month deadline previously issued by NSSF was too short given their financial situation.
Chalamila said he would use the seven-day period to engage with NSSF and other relevant stakeholders before returning to the area for a final meeting aimed at resolving the dispute.
He further directed that residents should not be harassed or disturbed during the seven-day period as discussions continue.
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The Regional Commissioner also announced that the previous payment deadline issued by NSSF had been cancelled, allowing the parties to develop a new payment arrangement.
Assistant Commissioner for Lands in Dar es Salaam, Rehema Mwinuka, confirmed that the disputed area is owned by NSSF.
An NSSF Property Manager explained that after the organisation discovered that its land had been occupied, it decided to sell the plots to the residents rather than pursue other measures. The land was priced at Sh15,000 per square metre in Malela and Sh25,000 per square metre in Mwapemba.
The affected residents, however, told Chalamila that they had acquired the plots through local government offices and had followed the procedures required at the time. They said they had therefore believed that the land was not owned by NSSF.
The residents appealed to the Regional Commissioner to intervene and negotiate a more affordable price of Sh5,000 per square metre, arguing that the existing rates were beyond their financial capacity.
They also requested a longer repayment period of between four and 10 years instead of the three months initially provided by NSSF.
According to information presented during the meeting, many residents have occupied the disputed areas for more than 16 years after acquiring land through their respective local government offices.
The latest intervention by the Dar es Salaam Regional Government is expected to provide an opportunity for NSSF and the affected residents to reach an agreement that addresses the ownership issue while taking into consideration the residents’ ability to pay.
