By ADAM IHUCHA--The Kilimanjaro International Airport (KIA) and thousands of
intruders are on a brink of war that could catch a multi-million-dollars
airfield facelifts scheme in the crossfire.
In June 2014 Kilimanjaro Development Company (KADCO) is
expected to embark on a major transformation of KIA with an eye to elevate the
facility into a truly tourists gateway.
A nearly $47 million worth makeover
plan will see all runways, apron, taxiways and passenger lounge refurbished in
a bid to offer holidaymakers a hassle-free trip to the northern Tanzania’s
tourism circuit.
But the project, among other developments under the new KIA’s integrated Master Plan, faces defiance from thousands of squatters, who are claiming
the ownership of the land.
“We are called squatters, but the airport found us in
this area, so who invaded who? We are not ready to move, we are here to stay”
Kia Ward Civic leader, Sinyok Ole Nairuko says.
Mr Nairuko estimates that nearly 10,000 residents in
Tindigani, Mtakuja, Sanya Station and Majengo villages would be affected,
should the eviction executed to pave way for airport development.
Available records show that nearly 9,000 acres of the total
area of 23,000 acres designated for the airport expansion have fallen in the
hands of intruders, forming their own 'free' living empire, threatening the
safety of the airport.
Officials say that thousands of local residents, from both districts of Arumeru and Hai in Arusha and Kilimanjaro regions respectively, have illegally settled at ' the airport estate, establishing a number of villages with majority erecting residential and commercial premises, a number of them being permanent.
Way back in 2002, KADCO estimated Tshs 480 million ($300,000) at the current exchange rate, were needed to compensate the squatters, but at the moment the amount would be high, with analysts fear whether the government will be in position to fund the eviction move.
Aviation experts say that the invasion, apart from posing a security threat to the airport, but also frustrates KADCO’s master plan that could see the area of KIA transformed into a modern tourist and commercial city.
In an earlier interview, Transport Minister, Dr Harrison Mwakyembe says he was aware of the issue and has already ordered eviction of all squatters who have trespassed the area to allow KIA’s development.
Officials say that thousands of local residents, from both districts of Arumeru and Hai in Arusha and Kilimanjaro regions respectively, have illegally settled at ' the airport estate, establishing a number of villages with majority erecting residential and commercial premises, a number of them being permanent.
Way back in 2002, KADCO estimated Tshs 480 million ($300,000) at the current exchange rate, were needed to compensate the squatters, but at the moment the amount would be high, with analysts fear whether the government will be in position to fund the eviction move.
Aviation experts say that the invasion, apart from posing a security threat to the airport, but also frustrates KADCO’s master plan that could see the area of KIA transformed into a modern tourist and commercial city.
In an earlier interview, Transport Minister, Dr Harrison Mwakyembe says he was aware of the issue and has already ordered eviction of all squatters who have trespassed the area to allow KIA’s development.
While KIA was built way back in 1971, villagers claim that
their villagers were registered in 1975.
Dr Mwakyembe says that he directed the new Board of
directors of KADCO under Ambassador Hassan Kibelloh to evict the invaders in a
bid to pave way for airport development.
"This is not the time for politics or political interference in sensitive issues of development and the country's security, I want all the people who have invaded the airport to be thrown out of the encroached area immediately," he noted.
"This is not the time for politics or political interference in sensitive issues of development and the country's security, I want all the people who have invaded the airport to be thrown out of the encroached area immediately," he noted.
Master plan
The KADCO’s new master plan aims at converting the 110 square kilometer space of the vast location surrounding the KIA into a state-of-the art, modern duty free shopping city that would compete
with UAE's Dubai.
The KADCO’s new master plan aims at converting the 110 square kilometer space of the vast location surrounding the KIA into a state-of-the art, modern duty free shopping city that would compete
with UAE's Dubai.
Apart from the 43 year-old air terminal, the KIA area,
strategically placed at the meeting point of three Northern Zone regions of
Arusha, Kilimanjaro and Manyara, has for many years remained a wide stretch of unoccupied
land as far as the eye can see, but this is bound to soon change.
According to the new KIA master plan, the location is to become a 'city' at the center of Moshi and Arusha, where prospective investors are to establish, massive shopping centers, high class tourist hotels, Duty free ports, Export Processing Zone, Educational Institutions, custom bonded warehouses, curio shops, golf courses and a large game ranch.
Having played the role of 'Gateway to the northern zone's tourist attractions' the Kilimanjaro Airport now intends to become 'the attraction,' the proposed plan may just see a number of Tanzanian bound tourists choosing to set camp right at the air terminal, not bothering to venture any further.
More than 80 percent of Tanzania bound tourists usually visit the Northern zone circuit, with some of them landing directly at KIA.
The 'Duty Free' center at KIA will benefit the two Northern urban centers, but even better, since businessmen will be getting the goods they usually buy in Dubai, right at their doorstep, prices of imported commodity will also be favorable to local residents.
This is in addition to the fact that, the 'Duty Free City' will be about 30 minutes drive from the Mirerani Hills, where the Tanzanite gemstones, ten times rarer than diamonds and which are only available in the location, are found.
According to the new KIA master plan, the location is to become a 'city' at the center of Moshi and Arusha, where prospective investors are to establish, massive shopping centers, high class tourist hotels, Duty free ports, Export Processing Zone, Educational Institutions, custom bonded warehouses, curio shops, golf courses and a large game ranch.
Having played the role of 'Gateway to the northern zone's tourist attractions' the Kilimanjaro Airport now intends to become 'the attraction,' the proposed plan may just see a number of Tanzanian bound tourists choosing to set camp right at the air terminal, not bothering to venture any further.
More than 80 percent of Tanzania bound tourists usually visit the Northern zone circuit, with some of them landing directly at KIA.
The 'Duty Free' center at KIA will benefit the two Northern urban centers, but even better, since businessmen will be getting the goods they usually buy in Dubai, right at their doorstep, prices of imported commodity will also be favorable to local residents.
This is in addition to the fact that, the 'Duty Free City' will be about 30 minutes drive from the Mirerani Hills, where the Tanzanite gemstones, ten times rarer than diamonds and which are only available in the location, are found.
The 'Duty Free City' project will also see KIA bouncing back
with vengeance after the airport suffered butts of jokes from Kenyan counterparts
who initially sneered at the terminal construction in the early seventies,
saying it would fall under the shadow of the vast Jomo Kenyatta international
airport.
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