Over 300 traders in Dodoma are calling for government intervention to resolve an ongoing dispute regarding their relocation site at Umonga, which has left them without business for seven months.
More than 300 traders formerly operating at the Rehema Nchimbi Market in Dodoma are urgently calling on the government to intervene in a mounting crisis over their relocation to the Umonga site.
These business owners have been unable to operate for seven months after their original marketplace was reclaimed by the national parliament last October. Despite being promised a new space, they remain sidelined.
This standoff highlights the growing economic strain on local entrepreneurs who are struggling to bridge the gap between official relocation plans and the harsh reality of being unable to earn a daily income.
Prisca Chibwaye, one of the affected traders, explained that despite being promised that Umonga would serve as a permanent solution, the reality on the ground remains stagnant. She noted that after being uprooted without compensation, the transition to the new site has been marred by inaction.
According to Misryoum, the traders pointed out that Prime Minister Dr.. Mwigulu Nchemba previously visited the site and directed authorities to improve the infrastructure, including laying gravel to prevent flooding.. However, those directives remain largely unfulfilled, leaving the site unsuitable for daily business operations.
The inability to work has created a ripple effect of financial instability among the traders. Many report being unable to repay bank loans or cover essential family needs, such as school fees and food, forcing some to sell personal household assets to survive the prolonged shutdown.
Abdullah Gogo, secretary for the market’s board of trustees, emphasized that the core issue is not the relocation itself, but the failure to properly prepare the alternative site.. Critical infrastructure, including water, electricity, and sanitation facilities, remains absent, making the area difficult to occupy.
Meanwhile, the Dodoma City Council, represented by Nsubisi Kapura, argues that the delay stems from a lack of compliance.. Officials claim that some traders have refused to sign the mandatory occupancy contracts, while also requesting that more people be added to the official relocation list beyond those initially registered.
Misryoum understands that local authorities maintain that the land must be managed through formal legal agreements to ensure accountability and order. Without these contracts, the city claims it cannot authorize the start of business activities in the new space.
Ultimately, the ongoing friction between the city’s administrative requirements and the immediate survival needs of the traders underscores the importance of transparent communication in urban development projects to prevent long-term economic suffering.