Dar es Salaam – The government has officially halted the planned eviction of hundreds of small-scale traders at the famous Coco Beach in Dar es Salaam, bringing immense relief to vendors who feared losing their primary source of income. 

The intervention puts an end to weeks of tension between the traders and the Kinondoni Municipal Council over the future of the popular coastal area.

Prime Minister Mwigulu Nchemba visited the beach on March 29, 2026, to address the traders directly. His visit followed widespread complaints and a public plea to President Samia Suluhu Hassan after municipal officials allegedly issued a 30-day notice for the vendors to vacate the premises.

Addressing a cheering crowd of entrepreneurs, Nchemba delivered a definitive message regarding the government’s stance on the prime real estate. “The beach is not for sale,” the Prime Minister declared, effectively quashing rumours that the area was being handed over to a wealthy private developer.

Nchemba reaffirmed that the national government stands by the previous commitments made by President Samia. He emphasised that the President had already issued a directive dedicating the area to the youth and small-scale traders, and that no lower-level official had the authority to overturn that decision.

READ MORE: Tensions Rise at Coco Beach as Hundreds of Small Traders Face Eviction Threat

“The President already came here and gave a statement, and there is no one else who can come and give a statement different from what the mother of the nation provided,” Nchemba told the gathered crowd. “Therefore, the statement issued by the President here is exactly what we will oversee and enforce.”

The Prime Minister attributed the recent eviction threats to a breakdown in communication rather than a shift in government policy. He noted that municipal trade officers had acknowledged the situation might have stemmed from a “misinterpretation or a slip in communication” regarding planned developments for the area.

While the government has cancelled the eviction orders, Nchemba used the opportunity to urge the traders to cooperate with upcoming infrastructure upgrades. The Kinondoni Municipal Council has long harboured ambitions to transform Coco Beach into a modern investment area to boost tourism and municipal revenue.

Nchemba stressed that these improvements are necessary and will ultimately benefit the vendors. He pleaded with the traders not to oppose the upgrades, explaining that a more attractive and accessible beach would draw larger crowds and increase their daily sales.

“When you have major guests coming, you need to make the place attractive; that is the essence of business,” Nchemba explained. “If you make it seem like a difficult place to visit, you will lose customers. I want to remove your fears so that you have the freedom to support these improvements.”

READ MORE: Small-scale Traders Hit Hardest By Ongoing Water, Power Rationing in Tanzania 

In a significant boost to the traders’ morale, the Prime Minister explicitly dismissed the persistent allegations that a private corporate entity was waiting in the wings to take over the beach. “There is no investor coming here; the investors are you yourselves,” he proclaimed to enthusiastic applause.

The Prime Minister’s assurances mark a critical victory for the estimated 400 vendors who sell food, beverages, and crafts along the shoreline. Just days prior, the traders had expressed deep despair, warning that an eviction would destroy their ability to support their families and potentially drive unemployed youth into criminal activities.

The crisis had also reignited debates over the legacy of former President John Magufuli, who famously blocked private developers from acquiring Coco Beach. Magufuli had insisted that the beach must remain a free public space for the ordinary citizens of Dar es Salaam, a policy that led prominent businessmen to withdraw their ownership claims in 2017.

Traders had questioned why the Kinondoni Municipal Council appeared to be reversing this inclusive approach. The council had previously sought funding for a Sh6 billion transformation project, which was projected to generate up to Sh17 billion annually in revenue through new facilities like a water park and commercial plazas.

During the height of the eviction fears, traders raised serious allegations of corruption, claiming that certain municipal officials were colluding with private interests. There were also disturbing reports of exploitation, including a female trader who alleged that a municipal officer demanded sexual favours in exchange for protecting her business.

READ MORE: Simu 2000 Traders Protest Over Plans to Relocate Them for a New World Bank-supported BRT Depot 

The government’s swift intervention highlights the delicate political and economic balance required in managing urban spaces in Tanzania’s commercial capital. Research has consistently shown that evicting informal workers from public spaces can lead to severe economic hardship and the disruption of vital community networks.

By guaranteeing the traders’ right to remain at Coco Beach while simultaneously pushing for infrastructural upgrades, the government is attempting to harmonise its urban development goals with the need to protect the informal economy. 

For now, the small-scale investors of Coco Beach can continue their daily operations with the highest level of state backing.