Ref: AFED/PR/03/16
The Ground Breaking Ceremony of the AFED Housing Development Project in Dar-es-Salaam was held on Friday 17th June 2016 (13th Night of Mahe Ramadhan 1437). The Project located on Plot No 1701/208 on Band Street (corner of Libya Street), Dar es Salaam comprising of approx 378 Sq. M, and has been kindly donated by Alhaj Gulamabbas Dewji (GD) and his family to Africa Federation.
The Ground-Breaking Ceremony was attended by the Africa Federation Chairman, Alhaj Shabir Najafi, Africa Federation Trustees, Alhaj Anwarali Dharamsi and Alhaj Mehboob Versi, the World Federation Secretary General, Alhaj Kumail Manji, the World Federation Executive Councilor, Alhaj Ahmed Daya, the two sons of Gulamabbas Dewji (GD), Ali and Hussein Dewji, The SANITA Merali Trust Representative, Alhaj Anver Merali Alibhai, Africa Federation Office Bearers, Dsm Jamaat Office Bearers and Trustees, AFED Economic and Housing Board Chairman, Alhaj Akil Hirji, past leaders of Africa Federation and Dsm Jamaat and Members of the Community from Dar es Salaam.
The Program commenced with recitation of verses from the Holy Quran and Hadees e Qisah. The Hon Asst Treasurer, Br. Aliabbas Nasser welcomed all the invitees and gave a brief outline of the Project.
The Africa Federation Chairman Alhaj Shabir Najafi presented an overview of the project which will be a 10 storey building comprising of 20 residential flats; i.e. two flats on each floor with a basement and shops on the ground floor.
This Housing Project will be on the basis of “Rent-To-Own” scheme, primarily for the first time home owners, low income earning community members from the Jamaats under Africa Federation. Details and costing shall be worked out by the Housing and Economic Development Board. Alhaj Shabir Najafi appealed to the Well-Wishers and Donors to support the project.
The Africa Federation Trustee Alhaj Anwarali Dharamsi informed the gathering on the housing needs in the Community and Africa Federation’s plan of assisting various Jamaats in their housing development projects which will go a long way to make the community members first time house owners in the future, he pointed out that house rent is one of the biggest cost factor to the lower and middle income earning family.
The World Federation Secretary General Alhaj Kumail Manji in his brief address stressed on the importance of housing development sighting the example of the high rents being levied by Landlords and NHC for the new buildings being developed, replacing the old ones. He said this is becoming burdensome to many families of middle and lower income earners, more apparent in big cities like Dar es Salaam, Antananarivo, Nairobi, Mombasa etc.
He reassured the World Federation’s full support to the Africa Federation in its vision and plan for housing developments and emphasized in bringing collective synergies together with the local Jamaats where available plots in the Jamaats can be developed jointly in order to bring down the overall cost of the building in the quest of offering reasonable housing and payment schemes to the members of the community.
The tender process for construction, building permit and other legal requirements are in the process. To this end, the AFED Economic and Housing Development Board is working hard to ensure these are completed soon.
The holy month of Ramadhan, with unlimited blessings from Allah (SWT), is a great gift to mankind; it is the best of the months in the year to revive the spirit of benevolence, charity and support to the community and to the institution in its efforts to lessen the burden on those families who are struggling to improve their living conditions. We pray by His Majesty’s grace, mercy and blessings for the successful take-off and completion of this and all future housing projects of Africa Federation and member Jamaats – Ameen.
The ceremony was concluded with the blessings of Dua e Hujjat by Aliabbas Nasser and also a Dua e Hiffazat by Maulana Seyed Arif Naqvi from Bilal Muslim Mission of Tanzania.
The Secretariat wishes to record its appreciation to the Volunteers and to the Task Force of KSI Jamaat Dar-es-Salaam, and Tanzania Road Haulage (1980) Ltd. (TRH) for their assistance in making all the arrangements for the program. Our special thanks go to Alhaj Muslim Dharamsi and Br. Yusuf Khan of TRH for working tirelessly to ensure all the arrangements, lighting, cleaning etc are taken care of for the Ceremony, May Allah (SWT) grant them more tawfeeqat, success, good health with long life – Ameen.
Secretariat