Tanga — The Export Processing Zone Authority (EPZA), has urged the Tanga City Council to speed up evaluation of designated economic development zones (EDZ).

The authority has cautioned that delays to do so, could make the city lose its position as one of four priority regions earmarked to have economic development zones in the country.

Some 14 regions have been earmarked for EDZs and Tanga is among four regions that have been given priority to set up EDZ alongside Mtwara, Coast and Arusha.

According an EDZs progress report issued here last week,

execution of preparatory work has been delayed due various reasons including shortage of staff in the evaluation unit.

The work was initially set to start on September 22, 2008 and completed by April 31, 2009, but the exercise is still well behind schedule. The other three regions have completed the necessary preparations for EDZs.

The EPZA agreed to shoulder the cost of preparing drawings and evaluation of land, crops, and payment of compensation to people who would lose their land for the purpose.

The evaluation work was to be done by Tanga City Council personnel at a cost of Sh17.2 million. The EPZA has paid the city council first instalment of Sh8.3 million for the task.

The report also revealed that preliminary demarcation of the 1,363 hectare land acquired by the authority in the Neema area along the Tanga- Pangani Road, has been completed. Full demarcation of the area would be made after land owners have been compensated.

The Tanga City Council is continuing with the evaluation of land, crops and structures and preliminary estimates show that the Government would be required to pay Sh5.30 billion in compensation.

The Regional Consultative Council (RCC) was last week informed that town planning drawings have already been made and approved by the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Human Settlements.

The report said that EPZA was finalising negotiations with the World Bank to acquire funds for feasibility study and prepare a master plan for the proposed Tanga economic development zone.

It has been hinted that the Tanga EDZ would consist of an EPZ, special economic zone, free trade zone, tourist parks, technology parks, logistical hubs and residential areas.