Small Traders’ Fury Erupts in Dar as Graduates Turn to Self-Employment Amid Job Crisis

By Adonis Byemelwa

In a significant protest at the Simu2000 Market in Ubungo, Dar es Salaam, small traders, known as "wamachinga," expressed their loss of faith in the District Commissioner of Ubungo, Hassan Bomboko, over the handling of their challenges. The traders accused Bomboko of making promises without implementing any solutions, despite their repeated complaints.

On Monday, July 8, 2024, the traders decided to close their businesses and stage a protest, demanding that the Ubungo Municipality reverse its decision to hand over the market area to the Dar Rapid Transit Agency (Dart). This decision was announced on July 4, 2024, after a municipal council meeting approved Dart to build its garage on the site.

Mussa Ndile, chairman of the market improvement committee, told reporters that they had agreed to relocate from the streets to the Simu2000 market without any issues. They were assured that the market would continue to be their permanent trading place.

Ndile mentioned that the government's investment of nearly TSh300 million to improve the market area further solidified their trust. However, they were now alarmed by the decision to hand over the site to Dart.

The traders' concern is that they might face repeated displacements, similar to their situation before the reorganization plan. Rose Ndosi, a trader at the market, shared that many traders had taken substantial loans through village Community Banks (Vicoba) and various financial institutions. They now fear being unable to repay these debts if Dart takes over the market.

According to Rose, their hope lies with the Prime Minister, the Minister of Trade and Industry, or President Samia Suluhu Hassan. Security forces began arriving at the protest, which started at 7:00 AM. Besides closing their businesses, the traders blocked roads leading to Sinza, preventing vehicles from entering and exiting the Simu2000 bus terminal.

The protesters chanted songs like "We don’t want a garage, we want our market," while carrying placards with messages such as "We don’t want a Simu2000 garage, Mama Samia come to our rescue." At 9:26 AM, the Ubungo District Commissioner, Bomboko, arrived with the police, but the traders demanded he leave.

Former Ubungo Mayor Boniface Jacob shared insights into the history of the Simu2000 market area.  He explained that during his tenure as Ubungo Ward Councillor (2010-2015), the Kinondoni Municipal Council purchased the five-acre area, previously owned by the Tanzania Post and Telecommunications Corporation, for investment projects to boost municipal revenue.

According to the ex-mayor, part of the land was allocated for a bus terminal, a public toilet, and a small business market in 2013. Jacob acknowledged a significant mistake made by the council: allocating market stalls to councilors and influential government officials instead of actual traders.

This misstep led to the market's decline, as those allocated stalls did not engage in business activities. When Jacob became Mayor of Kinondoni in 2016, efforts to remove street traders and relocate them to designated areas intensified.

 Despite several attempts by the police and regional commissioner to clear the street traders from the Ubungo intersection, these efforts were unsuccessful, often resulting in clashes and property damage.

In May 2016, Jacob personally visited the street traders at the Ubungo intersection, without police or security, and persuaded them to move to the Simu2000 market.

 He allowed each trader to choose their preferred spot, which resulted in a successful relocation. By evening, the Ubungo intersection was clear of traders for the first time.

Following the division of Kinondoni and Ubungo municipalities in 2017, the newly formed Ubungo Municipal Council requested to retain the Simu2000 Market and Mawasiliano Bus Terminal while ceding the Makumbusho bus terminal and market to Kinondoni. This agreement included sharing other assets in a 60-40 split between Kinondoni and Ubungo.

Jacob expressed his surprise and disappointment at the recent decision by the Ubungo council to allocate the strategically important Simu2000 market area to Dart for a garage.

He disparaged the decision for undermining potential municipal revenue and excluding the traders from the process, despite significant infrastructure investments totaling over TSh1 billion to improve the market environment.

These improvements included the construction of fences, market sheds, public toilets, stalls, and the provision of electricity and water.

Jacob condemned the decision as a waste of taxpayers' money and an example of the greed of a few local leaders. He urged reconsideration, emphasizing the market's importance for the traders and the community.

The traders' altercation with authorities highlights a critical issue in major cities like Dar es Salaam, where job opportunities are scarce.

Many graduates from nearby universities, such as Tumaini University Dar es Salaam, the Law School of Tanzania, and the Institute of Social Work, have turned to self-employment at Mawasiliano market.

 Unable to secure lucrative white-collar jobs, they have become food vendors, tailors, mobile phone mechanics, and barbers, showcasing their resilience and adaptability in a challenging job market.

The 2022 Tanzania Commission for Universities (TCU) report says that higher learning institutions produce 100,000 graduates annually, but the government employs less than 20% of them.