DODOMA: THE government has stated that it is instituting some measures, including evicting some individuals who encroached Mwanza Airport area, as part of the procedures to give the terminal an international status.
Transport Deputy Minister David Kihenzile revealed the new development yesterday in Parliament when responding to the supplementary question posed by Stanslaus Mabula (CCM- Nyamagana).
According to the deputy minister, the planned eviction will involve over 1000 people who encroached the airport area.
In his follow-up question to the government, the MP sought clarification on the rationale of evicting of over 1000 people while initially the plan was to acquire an area measuring not more than 700 metres from the current airport’s end point to the residential area.
The MP stated that the government initially held talks with citizens living nearby the terminal, telling them that the area that will be acquired will not exceed 700 metres from the current demarcation, and that those who will be affected will be compensated.
“Now, it appears that the area that will be acquired will involve five wards including Shibula and Bulyanhulu where around 1,400 people will be touched. Don’t we see that this will be detrimental to the citizens?” he queried.
In his response to the supplementary question, Deputy Minister Kihenzile said to give Mwanza Airport an international status, more than 1000 intruders must be evicted, a measure that will also make the terminal more secure.
Apart from the planned land acquisition, the deputy minister said, the government was also continuing with documentation process that takes onboard review of legal framework.
According to the minister, another measure that will also help to make Mwanza Airport an international terminal, involves construction and expansion of its infrastructure.
Earlier, Ilemela MP (CCM) Dr Angelina Mabula sought the government response on when would the conflict pitting Mwanza Airport (Tanzania Authority) and residents living near the terminal would be resolved.
Last Thursday, Transport Minister Prof Makame Mbarawa revealed that over 1.1tri/- had been spent for the construction and rehabilitation of airports in the past three years.
Prof Mbarawa revealed the government spending during the signing of the contract between the Tanzania Airports Authority (TAA) and Taifa Mining and Civil Limited worth 29bn/- for the completion of the Mwanza Airport passenger terminal project.
He mentioned the project as Msalato International Airport construction that is being implemented in two phases.
The first phase is being implemented at a tune of 165.62bn/- while second phase will cost 194.403bn/-.
Other projects include Musoma which has cost 36.638bn/- so far, Shinyanga airport (49bn/-) Tabora (27bn/- ), Sumbawanga (50.9bn/-) and Kigoma (38.63bn/-). Others are Iringa airport (63.73bn/-), Songwe (28.87bn/-), Songea 37.09bn/-, Mtwara (56.99bn/- ), Dodoma (10bn/-) as well as Arusha (30bn/-).
