The ground-breaking ceremony for the Madina Residency Project located at Plot Number 512, Mindu Street, Upanga, Dar es Salaam took place on Sunday 23rd June 2024.
The Function was attended by the Africa Federation Chairman Amine bhai Nassor, Immediate past Chairman and advisory to the Housing Board Shabir bhai Najafi, Hon Treasurer Zainul bhai Chandoo; Hon Secretary Zuhair bhai Jaffer, Hon Assistant Secretary MohamedAmir bhai Hamza; Trustees Anwarali bhai Dharamsi, Mehboob bhai Versi and Mohamed bhai Bandali, Dar es Salaam Jamaat Vice Chairman Abdulrasul bhai Shamji, Hon Treasurer Mohamed bhai Rawji and Hon General Secretary Hasnain bhai Sherally.
Also in attendance were Mombasa Jamaat Chairman Mohamed bhai Jaffer and Hon. Secretary Yusuf bhai Jiwa, COEJ Hon Treasurer Mohamedali Muraj; Kampala Jamaat Trustee Hussein bhai Merchant; AFED Board Chairs & Members, Nominated and Elected Councillors, Invitees and Community Members.
The Master of the Ceremony for the event was Br. MohamedJawad Kassam. The program began with the recitation of the Holy Quran by the AFED Hon. Secretary Alhaj Zuhair bhai Jaffer, which was followed by Hadith-e-Kisa recited by Sheikh Mohamed Mbaraka and a Qasida by Br. Muhammad Taha Lakhani.
The AFED Housing Development Board Chairman, Alhaj Akil bhai Hirji welcomed the dignitaries and invited guests to the event and expressed his gratitude to all the attendees who had travelled from different regions to participate in the event.
He provided detailed information about the project, highlighting that the building will consist of 17 floors, including the basement. The complex will feature 83 apartments: 4 units of 1-bedroom, 4 units of 2-bedroom, 41 units of 3-bedroom, 22 units of 4-bedroom, and 12 units of 5-bedroom. The terrace floor will be a multi-purpose area, including a hall for functions, a gym, pickleball courts, and a kids' play area. The building will offer 140 car parking spaces across 4 floors and include facilities such as 4 elevators, a generator, sub-meters, a transformer, and filtered water supply to all the apartments.
This project was designed on the basis of the needs of the community after having done the needs assessment through the survey done in 2023. Due to changes in the circumstances of housing needs have now been doubled. This is due to various reasons such as demolitions of government housing. Economic circumstances, rental hike- all these have impacted the situation of the community.
Housing Board Chairman- Akil bhai Hirji mentioned on two different schemes for the project, a rent-to-own scheme and an outright purchase scheme. He said that the introduction of Rent-to-own schemes has been successful in Dar es Salaam, Nairobi, Kampala and Madagascar and therefore the Housing Board shall continue for other jamaats. He mentioned that the Rent-to-own scheme is the only solution to empower our Community members to become home owners.
He added that the Board is looking into two more housing projects in Dar-es-Salaam to accommodate 80 more apartments as there is a dire need of the same.
He expressed his gratitude to all the attendees who came from various regions to participate in the event.
A video presentation of the building was shown which provided the attendees with an insight into the project and the expected completion of the apartments and the building in general. Please click below for the video link:
The Mombasa Jamaat Chairman Alhaj Dr. Mohamed Jaffer in his brief address to the gathering spoke on the importance of such housing projects in our Community and prayed for the successful completion of the project and requested the AFED Chairman to consider a housing project for the Mombasa Jamaat as well.
AFED Trustee and Housing Board Advisor, Alhaj Shabir Najafi also addressed the attendees, emphasizing on the importance of housing and the significance of the Madina Residency project. He noted that AFED would need members’ support and funds to complete this mega project. Shabir bhai Najafi highlighted that one of the payments plans under the rent-to-own scheme would allow members to make a minimum deposit and pay the balance over 15 years. He encouraged members to seize this opportunity to become homeowners. On the occasion of this ground breaking, Shabir bhai on behalf of Africa Federation informed that AFED will facilitate 4 apartments - out of which 2 will be 100% grant on deposit and the other 2 will be 50% grant on deposit. A special criteria for eligibility will be announced. This will assist those families who have limited deposit arrangements.
AFED Chairman Alhaj Amine Nassor in his speech emphasized on he importance of becoming house owners and stated that this project is part of his manifesto and urged Community members to take advantage of this Project.
Amine bhai Nassor called for financial support from members and thanked Alhaj Dr. Mohamed Jaffer and Alhaj Anwarali Dharamsi for their pledges of soft loan for the project.
He extended his gratitude to Akil bhai Hirji, the Housing Board team along with Shabir bhai Najafi who has been instrumental in Projects undertaken by the Board and appreciated their tireless efforts in undertaking this project. Click on the below link for the highlights of the program:
The event concluded with the ground breaking ceremony, performed by the dignitaries, councillors, and the Housing Development Board Members.
The Housing Development Board expressed their appreciation to all invitees, community members, the KSIJ Dar es Salaam media team, the decorator Gorgeous Events, Master of Ceremony Br. Mohamed Jawad Kassam, and everyone involved in making the event a success.
The Ground Breaking Ceremony can be viewed on the below link:
AFED Housing Development Board
