PRESIDENT JAKAYA KIKWETE SETS SUPER DAR MALL IN MOTION

President Jakaya Kikwete unveils a plaque to officially launch the construction of the ultra-modern Morocco Square located at the junction of Ali Hassan Mwinyi and Mwai Kibaki Road in Dar es Salaam yesterday. Looking on is the Minister of Lands, Housing and Human Settlements Development, Mr. William Lukuvi, CRDB Bank Managing Director, Dr. Charles Kimei and Director General of the National Housing Corporation (NHC), Mr. Nehemiah Mchechu.

THE government is set to be the leader in the region as it continues linking its institutions to the national fibre optic and provide services through internet services.

Already the Business Registration and Licensing Agency (BRELA) is connected to the fibre optic and is providing services online, President Jakaya Kikwete said in Dar es Salaam.

President Kikwete made the observation during a function to lay the foundation stone for a commercial and residential complex project being implemented by National Housing Corporation (NHC), dubbed ‘Morocco Square,’ which will house, among others, the largest shopping mall in the East Africa region.

Mr Kikwete said providing services online instead of individuals making physical visits to government institutions will curb corruption as well as traffic congestion since most of the government institutions are located in the city’s central business district.

“You might be told that your file cannot be found. But if you provide something small, the file will pop up. We want to stop this by ensuring that government services are provided online.

That is why the government incurred astronomical expenses for the national fibre optic,” he explained. Mr Kikwete commended the Business Registration Licensing Authority (BRELA) for implementing his directives in the shortest time possible, stressing that business licences and other transactions will now be conducted online.

The president commended the NHC Board and the Director General, Mr Nehemiah Mchechu, for the timely and modern projects that will not only transform the city’s outlook, but the national economy as well.

He said the location of the project, which will also have residential apartments, offices, recreational facilities such as movie theatres, will also help reduce congestion in the town centre where many of the private and government offices are located.

President Kikwete said that for quite some time, he had proposed that the entire land area along Ali Hassan Mwinyi Road; from the Selander Bridge up to Mwenge and towards Morogoro Road be developed with modern buildings, complete with offices and apartments, to reduce congestion in the city.

“We had lengthy discussion on the matter with the then Minister for Lands, Housing and Human Settlement Development, Professor Anna Tibaijuka. I am happy to see that this is happening.

It will greatly reduce the pressure experienced in the city centre,” he observed. He added that other countries such as Dubai are magnificent because city authorities there came up with building and planning conditions geared at beautifying cities, ‘’just as the NHC Morocco Square will do.’’

Responding to a request from the NHC Board Chairperson, Ms Zakia Meghji, seeking amendment of laws to allow foreigners to buy housing units, President Kikwete said a formal request should be forwarded to the government for consideration.

Mr Kikwete said not all houses and buildings in developed countries are owned by locals but foreigners who are allowed to buy and are given conditions to follow if they want to construct a building.

“In Dubai, South Africa and other developed countries, this method applies, which is a big catalyst to those countries economy. We should not be our own stumbling block in achieving our goals in development,” he emphasised.

He commended the CRDB Managing Director, Dr Charles Kimei, for providing NHC with a loan of 150bn/-, noting that the government will continue supporting the state housing body.

Earlier, Mr Mchechu said prospective buyers have come out and bought office spaces, including the Dar es Salaam Stock Exchange (DSE), noting due to the importance of the DSE in the country’s economy, the building housing the offices will be called Exchange Tower.

Other International organisations that have bought office spaces in the NHC Morocco Square include Delloitte. He said that the NHC Morocco Square project, which will have four skyscraper buildings located within a single compound, is expected to be completed in early 2017.

The whole project is being implemented under a local contractor, Estim Construction Limited, at a cost of 150bn/-, being a loan from the CRDB. Mr Mchechu added that apart from the skyscrapers, there will be three levels underground to include supermarkets, shops, food courts, movie theatres and parking area.

Daily News