Establishment of a community satellite metropolis on the outskirts of Dar es Salaam city is in top gear as the Unit Trust of Tanzania (UTT) has guaranteed to fund installation of its basic facilities, including water, electricity and roads.
Groundwork is underway as all the three contracted companies, one for the supply of electricity, another for water distribution from the main DAWASA pipe and the third for road construction, have made impressive progress in the execution of the first phase of the project during the next few months.
Speaking from the site recently, UTT Senior Architectural Officer, who is also the Project Manager, Godfrey Mwakabole, said title deeds were available for all 246 plots at Mapinga Satellite Community Development. “The satellite community metropolis is 40 kilometres north of Dar es Salaam city centre along Bagamoyo road and the distance from the main road is two kilometres from Kerege,” Mwakabole explained.
Clarifying land use and the sizes of plots, the project manager said the surveyed land was for low, medium and high density plots which were designed for residential and commercial purposes. The plan also indicates recreational areas and designated locations for schools and hospitals.
“The location is surrounded by beautiful palm trees and green vegetation. Plots will be sold through a bidding process, but the minimum value established is 25,000/- per square metre for residential purposes and 35,000/ per square metre for commercial plots with a deposit of 1m/- and 5m/-, respectively,” Mwakabole explained.
The project manager was accompanied by the Principal Project Management Officer, Mr Shakiru Abdulkarim, who said application forms for those wishing to bid for the plots were available at all postal offices and the deadline was the end of this month (today). “Phase two of the project involves construction of houses, at least 300 units, starting next year.
The structures will comprise bungalows, double-storey housing and apartment complexes all currently at the design stage. Completion of phases one and two is expected within three years,” Shakiru explained The plan of the envisaged Mapinga Satellite Community shows areas set aside for service and trade, car park, residential, open spaces, hotels, shopping malls, oxidation pond, police post, cemetery, schools, dispensary, waste water collection facility, petrol station and religious sites.
“UTT is committed to the development of the infrastructure to not only add value to the land, but also put in place the necessary facilities to the comfort of the community. With the planned Bagamoyo port in the proximity (hardly 20 km away), Mapinga Satellite Community remains the ideal place for habitation,” Shakiru explained.
By BILHAM KIMATI, Tanzania Daily News
