Dodoma City Council Seeks Agreement Over Rehema Nchimbi Market Relocation
Dodoma City Council has invited representatives of former Rehema Nchimbi market traders to finalize lease agreements for a new designated area.
Tension surrounding the relocation of vendors from the former Rehema Nchimbi market is approaching a potential resolution as Dodoma City Council calls for a direct dialogue with traders’ representatives.
The municipal leadership has formally requested a sit-down to review the draft lease agreement for the new Umonga site, marking a strategic move to clear up months of uncertainty for over 300 business owners.
This call for negotiation highlights the ongoing struggle to balance municipal urban planning requirements with the livelihood concerns of local entrepreneurs who were displaced last October.
Following the closure of the Rehema Nchimbi site, officials initially suggested alternative locations, but vendors rejected these options, opting to voice their concerns through official channels.. The district administration intervened by forming a special committee, which eventually identified a 8,621-square-meter plot on Kitenge Street as a viable solution for the displaced group.
Misryoum notes that this move represents a critical attempt to restore economic stability for hundreds of traders while preventing the disorganized growth of informal commerce in the capital city.
During his recent site inspection, Prime Minister Mwigulu Lameck Nchemba emphasized the need for accelerated development at the new site and underscored the importance of transparency in the issuance of lease contracts.. Acting on these directives, the city council initiated contact with trader leadership in late April to ensure all parties are aligned before operations officially commence.
City authorities have issued a stern warning regarding the legitimacy of the Umonga project.. They clarified that any prior allocations of land at this site outside of official city channels are unauthorized, characterizing such claims as fraudulent activities that do not carry government recognition.
Meanwhile, the Department of Trade and Investment has expressed its willingness to continue negotiations until a mutual consensus is reached.. Officials remain firm that if the current talks stall, the government will step in to mandate that all parties finalize formal agreements to resume business activities.
Securing a formal agreement is essential to move past the current impasse and ensure that traders can operate within a legal and protected framework, providing much-needed clarity for the local business community.