Speaking to residents of the area yesterday, Lands, Housing and Human Settlements Development minister William Lukuvi said they also agreed to stop all mining activities in the area.
Twiga Cement Company, the investor, is handing over the land to the residents who were claimed to invade the premises heeded a court order, and moved out.
He said after conducting extensive negotiations, they decided to change the occupation status, making them the legal owners from yesterday.“Before this decision you were identified as invaders but from today you will be legal owners.”
But Lukuvi warned the residents to stop conducting mining activities saying that the new agreement would suspended if such activities continued, noting that to date some residents were doing some mining.
He said the activities would harm their health and the environment, adding that a committee would be set up to review eligible residents of the area before the 2012 aerial survey.
The minister said they would be given title deeds while identifying areas for infrastructure such as roads, schools and plots.
“The investor would be given another area for mining… he had promised to construct a health centre and school,” he said.
Twiga cement company Chief executive Officer Alfonso Rodriguez said they agreed that villagers to continue staying in the area while waiting for the government to complete land survey and evaluation to issue title deeds.
He said they agreed to cede the land considering every citizen deserves access to land, water, electricity and other essential services.
Kinondoni mayor Yusph Mwenda applauded the government decision to resolve the long-standing land dispute, saying the minister gave priority to the interests of the majority.
According to previous reports, the company became the legal owner of the land after the Court of Appeal ruled in its favour in a 2008 case, pitting it against Chasimba villagers.
SOURCE: GUARDIAN ON SUNDAY
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