Evictions to make way for shopping mall in Arusha

Residents in Kaloleni near the city centre are to be evicted from land owned by the Arusha International Conference Centre (AICC) to make way for a shopping mall being built by the AICC. Its managing director Elishilia Kaaya confirmed that eviction notices had been served and that a substantial amount of residential property is to be demolished prior to the construction of the $12 million facility, a joint venture between AICC and the Local Authority Pension Fund (LAPF).

Kaaya said that the planned 7,000 sqm complex on almost four hectares would require the demolition of 18 blocks comprising 72 living quarters in the area known locally as Soweto, near the central bus station and Amri Abeid stadium. Tenants have been given until December to vacate their homes, with construction to start at some stage next year. Kaaya said that the eviction process would be conducted "in a civilised manner."

The semi-state AICC falls under the remit of the ministry of foreign affairs and international cooperation, and aside from its conference centre it owns over 650 residential units in Arusha, making it the largest landlord in the city. The shopping centre will include supermarkets, banking facilities, restaurants and travel agencies, with additional plans for a cinema, bureaux de change services and function halls.