Dar es Salaam – Hundreds of small-scale traders operating at the city’s famous Coco Beach are facing an uncertain future following an alleged 30-day eviction notice issued by the Kinondoni Municipal Council. 

The move has ignited significant tension between municipal officials, private developers, and the traders who rely on the beach for their livelihoods.

Traders claim they were recently summoned by municipal officials and ordered to vacate the area within a month. The directive has sparked outrage among the estimated 400 vendors who sell food, beverages, and other goods along the popular coastline.

Efforts to get clarification from the Kinondoni Municipal Council regarding the eviction notice and the allegations of corruption are currently ongoing.

During a recent gathering, traders expressed their frustration and appealed directly to President Samia Suluhu Hassan to intervene and halt the eviction process. They argued that removing them would destroy their only source of income and push many young people into crime.

“When you chase someone away from doing business here at Coco Beach, where are you taking them?” asked Laseko Chuga, an ice cream vendor at the beach. He warned that the eviction could create a wave of theft and social instability in the city.

The current crisis highlights a long-standing battle over the future of Coco Beach and how it should be managed. For years, the area has been a focal point of contention between ordinary citizens who view it as a public asset and authorities seeking to commercialise the prime real estate.

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The traders’ plight stands in stark contrast to the stance taken by the late former President John Magufuli, who fiercely opposed the removal of small vendors from the area. Magufuli famously declared Coco Beach a public property meant for the poor and ordinary citizens of Dar es Salaam.

Under Magufuli’s administration, the government blocked attempts by private developers to take over the beach. Following Magufuli’s directive that the beach must be left for public use, prominent businessman, the late Yusuf Manji, withdrew his claim to the area.

President Samia also personally inaugurated the small business stalls at the beach, assuring the traders that the government recognised their presence and contribution. Traders are now questioning why the Kinondoni Municipal Council is reversing this inclusive policy.

The current policy shift appears to be driven by a renewed push for urban development and revenue generation. The Kinondoni Municipal Council has previously outlined plans to transform Coco Beach into a major investment area with modern attractions.

Authorities have argued that upgrading the beach infrastructure will boost tourism, improve security, and significantly increase municipal revenue. A proposed transformation project, backed by the TIB Development Bank, aimed to generate up to Sh17 billion annually for the council.

However, traders suspect that corrupt motives and hidden interests are behind the sudden eviction campaign. Almas Masia Victor, chairperson of the Coco Beach entrepreneurs, alleged that a few municipal officials are colluding with an unnamed private developer to seize the land.

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“There is information that someone wants this place and has already given out some money,” Victor claimed. He accused former and current officials of orchestrating a scheme to hand over the public beach to a wealthy individual.

The eviction threat has also brought to light disturbing allegations of exploitation. One female trader, Lamis Said, publicly accused a municipal trade officer of demanding sexual favours in exchange for assistance with her business.

The potential removal of these traders carries severe economic and social implications. Research indicates that evicting informal workers often leads to significant losses in earnings and disrupts established community networks.

Furthermore, closing off Coco Beach to small vendors could effectively restrict access for ordinary Dar es Salaam residents. Traders argue that Coco Beach is the only remaining free public beach in the city, as many others in areas like Kigamboni have been privatised and require entrance fees.

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If the municipal council proceeds with the eviction, hundreds of families will lose their ability to pay rent, buy food, and send their children to school. The vendors are pleading with the government to upgrade the beach without displacing the people who have maintained it for years.

“We are not refusing to leave, but this is government land, and we are the government,” said Festo Mwaule, another trader. “We are citizens of Tanzania, we are in our own country, and we are asking our mother, President Samia, to hear our cry.”