Anti-riot police officers order machinga to disperse during yesterday’s operation to remove the informal traders from Makoroboi Street in Mwanza. PHOTO | MICHAEL JAMSON

By Emmanuel Chacha ,The Citizen Reporter

“That area is not allowed for business as it disturbs people going for worship. Another area is a nursery school opposite to the temple. Those areas are prohibited and they know it. Worshippers have been complaining that they worship in inconvenient situations,”

 Mwanza. The city centre here yesterday was once again rocked by violence as small traders commonly known as machinga, fiercely protested authorities’ decision to demolish their stalls along Makoroboi Street.

Anti-riot police responded with teargas to calm down the situation. The violence erupted around 9pm and it lasted five hours, compelling business activities to stop as many shops were closed and people vacated the areas in fear.

The popular Nyerere Road in the central business district was temporarily closed and the whole Makoroboi Street was evacuated as police tried to disperse the machinga by firing teargas while the traders resisted with stone throwing.

Residents of Asian origin were the main victims as the machinga accused them of persuading the city council to remove them from the area. Their attempt to torch a nearby Hindu Temple failed because firemen managed to put out the blaze they had set on the house of worship.

The temple, located along Makoroboi Street, is one of the areas where the machinga want to be allowed to conduct their businesses.

Mwanza regional police commander Valentino Mlowola said that no injuries or damages were reported by yesterday noon and businesses resumed as usual after police made a heavy patrol.

City council director Halifa Hida said the operation to remove the machinga was a routine exercise meant to keep the city clean and that the traders were given notice to leave the place near the temple seven days ago, but they refused.

“That area is not allowed for business as it disturbs people going for worship. Another area is a nursery school opposite to the temple. Those areas are prohibited and they know it. Worshippers have been complaining that they worship in inconvenient situations,” he said.

Chairman of the Association for Machinga here, Joseph Mwita, said it was illegal to run business at the area, noting that those doing business there were not members of their association.

Speaking in Parliament in Dodoma yesterday, Nyamagana MP Ezekia Wenje (Chadema) asked the government to stop the ‘unfair’ crackdown on petty traders in Mwanza.