Machinga complex disappointing the government & community, other uses should be designed for it.

[Thuonlock Dav Andata]

Since the erection of billions-worth structure, just three days have passed when I just passed-by and got motivated to go one floor after another trying to see what could actually be taking place there, ooh, really disappointing! I did not manage to go to all rooms in both wings but surveyed much the one facing east. The ground floor was having a bank branch (Akiba Commercial Bank), and a limited number of traders selling bags, the first floor was with some stitchery men and some m-pesa and tigo pesa shops. The other subsequent floors were blank with only fresh air circulating in them. Bad enough is that some other people have started making renovations within the building to make individual offices, I don’t know with permit from whom. As I can remember, this was one of the merciful efforts the government did to those “marching guys” commonly “machinga” just to spare them a tiresome roving with their articles for sale to impulse buyers. As I know, the move to construct the building was stressed up by different stakeholders especially MPs and news reporters who were from time to time interrogating the hawkers on the difficulties they face while trying to sell their merchandise. The hawkers cried for one central point where they could display their articles waiting for potential customers, something that resulted to what we call “machinga complex”, where some square feet metal enclosures fixed within the building was to be occupied by one trader each. This was a smart plan ever, but has not worked at all. Here the government has nothing to be blamed about but the beneficiaries. The building is still young, thus its intended use should be switched to another. We have so many cultural people designing cultural and other decorative items in Dar es Salaam and other parts of the country. These cultural items sells best to foreigners and even nationals, but cultural people have not been considered yet. What if the “machinga complex” is changed to National Cultural Centre? The smartest policy that laymen consider as a ruling party’s but a national policy is “Kilimo Kwanza”. This is the policy on which the government has made a great endeavor to work out. A handsome amount has been invested in different kilimo kwanza projects, tax reduced on agricultural inputs and so forth. What if the “machinga complex” is changed to Kilimo Kwanza Centre if national cultural centre impossible?The stakeholders involved in agriculture like agricultural inputs dealers should have one central point coordinating them (machinga complex) and have sub-centers in other regions of the country if possible. “National Cultural Centre” and “Kilimo Kwanza Centre” are my suggested core factors that have to replace “marching guys” from the complex, though some other uses can be derived from other experts. To avoid incurring more loss the government has to have a fresh look on the use of this huge structure. What are your views JF members?

 

[Mwali]

Kumbe Machinga ni marching guy? alaaaaa!
well, where will our marching guys go if the center is changed to a cultural or agricultural center?
Unlike you I think the project pomoter (in this case the government) is to blame.
How can you possibly think that marching guys will be confined in a building and sell their low cost items?

 

[broken ages]

Ni vigumu jengo kufanya kazi inavyotarajiwa hadi wamachinga wanaotandika vitu chini kwenye mitaa ya Kariakoo wawe wamedhibitiwa kwa sababu wanaohitaji bidhaa ambazo zingepatikana machinga complex wanazipata barabarani watakuwa hawana haja ya kuzifuata kutoka mitaa kama Kongo hadi huko mbali,ifike Waikati sasa tuache kufanya kazi kisiasa tufanye kazi kwa kufuata taratibu sioni Kama ni sawa kuacha watu wauze bidhaa holela bila kuwa na leseni na hakuna kodi yeyote wanayolipa serikali halafu tutegemee sehemu zilizotengwa rasmi kuleta ufanisi wauzaji hawako tayari kwenda huko kwa sababu kuna gharama,pia huu uuzaji bidhaa holela barabarani na nje ya maduka ni usumbufu na bughudha kwa wafanyabiashara rasmi Kama wenye maduka na ambao wamefuata taratibu zote za kulipa kodi.ningeshauri taratibu za biashara zifuatwe na kuheshimiwa tukifanya hilo tutapata ufanisi tuache ubabaishaji na tuwe wabunifu