Tanga — THE business community here has declared a conflict with the Regional Commissioner, Ms Chiku Gallawa, following her move to force traders to close their businesses every Saturday for the cleanliness campaign --msalagambo.

The Chairman of Tanga Business Association (CHABIWATA), Mr Salim Kirungi, accompanied by some members, told reporters here that the decision by the RC was just like a blow to them because it affects their business.

"Saturday is the day which people from up country come to town to make purchases, most of them come early in the morning and go back in the evening, if you order the closure of shops, hotels and other businesses in the morning hours, what do you expect to happen," queried Mr Kirungi.

He said Tanga is economically poor, noting that the move by the RC would exacerbate the problem, impede development and to some extent discourage potential investors. Earlier, Ms Gallawa had ordered closure of all businesses in the morning hours to allow for traders themselves and all residents to participate in environment cleanness exercise.

Previously, the 'msalagambo' campaign used to take place once a month, targeting the last Saturday of a month but now the RC has demanded that the campaign be conducted weekly.

Ms Gallawa has defended her decision as right, saying it was because of the low response by traders when the exercise was being done on a monthly basis. She said the question of keeping the city clean was a top priority, vowing never to reverse the decision until the business people responded positively to the campaign.