Kariakoo, the bustling commercial district nestled in the heart of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, has long been hailed as a vibrant hub of trade and commerce in East Africa. Its renowned open-air market, Kariakoo Market, attracts thousands of visitors daily, offering a diverse array of merchandise ranging from clothing and textiles to electronics and fresh produce. However, recent events have cast a shadow over this vibrant marketplace, prompting a closer look at the underlying issues and the consequences faced by various stakeholders.
During the Kariakoo saga, the repercussions extended beyond the traders themselves, impacting other key players within the district. One group significantly affected by the strike was the bodaboda riders, the popular motorcycle taxi drivers in Kariakoo. These riders heavily rely on shop owners who provide them with delivery tasks, transporting goods to various destinations within the city.
Gabriel Dominic, a bodaboda rider, lamented the dire impact of the strike on their livelihoods. He emphasized the interconnectedness between shop owners and bodaboda riders, stating, "Today has been a bad day for us because these shops are closed, and we depend on each other for our activities. They provide us with goods to transport to various areas." With the shops shut, bodaboda riders found themselves without customers, disrupting their daily earnings and casting uncertainty over their future.
Mussa Rashid, another bodaboda rider, echoed Dominic's sentiments, highlighting the significant financial impact of the strike on their daily earnings. Rashid explained that their income depended on the volume of orders received from traders, earning between 50,000 and 100,000 Tanzanian Shillings per day. However, on that particular day, the business had come to a standstill. "As I'm talking to you, I haven't even had a single customer, not even someone paying 2,000 Shillings. This is not a good sign for today," Rashid expressed with concern.
Normally, bodaboda riders charge 5,000 Shillings for deliveries to places like Magomeni and 7,000 Shillings to Sinza. With three or four trips in a day, their earnings would typically be substantial. However, the ongoing strike disrupted this routine, leaving them with a sense of uncertainty and financial strain.
Meanwhile, at the heart of the Kariakoo saga were the traders themselves, who decided to close their shops in protest against what they deemed as burdensome levies imposed and collected by the Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA). The traders called for the removal of these perceived nuisance levies, aiming to restore a conducive business environment within the market.
Addressing the traders at Mnazi Mmoja grounds in Dar es Salaam, Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa reassured them of the government's commitment to resolving the ongoing issues. He emphasized the importance of attracting customers back to Kariakoo and restoring the vibrancy of the market, which serves not only the local population but also East and Central African countries.
As the saga unfolds, the fate of Kariakoo hangs in the balance. The resilience and determination of the traders, bodaboda riders, and other stakeholders will play a crucial role in shaping the future of this iconic marketplace. Only time will reveal the extent of the impact and the outcomes of the government's response to the traders' grievances.
In the meantime, the bustling energy and vibrant atmosphere that once characterized Kariakoo remain temporarily overshadowed. Yet, hope lingers as the stakeholders strive to find common ground and restore the bustling spirit of this renowned commercial district.
Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa has formed a 14-member team to get to the bottom of challenges in the famous Kariakoo business centre and other markets.
The seven members selected from various public institutions and the other seven from the traders.
The seven members from the government will include Permanent Secretary (Prime Minister’s Office), Permanent Secretary (Ministry of Finance), Permanent Secretary ( Ministry of Investment, Industry and Trade
Others are Permanent Secretary ( Ministry of Community Development, Gender, Women and Special Groups) Dar es Salaam Administrative Secretary (RAS) and two officials from TRA.
Traders at popular market, which also serves East and Central African countries, on Monday closed their shops, calling for the removal of what they termed as nuisance levies imposed and collected by the Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA).