Herders get 3.8bn/- for confiscated livestock

KISESA: THE government has begun honouring court rulings by compensating livestock keepers whose animals were confiscated, with about 3.8bn/- already disbursed, Prime Minister Dr Mwigulu Nchemba has said.

The move follows the government’s decision to repeal provisions of the Wildlife Conservation Act, Cap 283 of 2009, which permitted the confiscation of livestock.

Amendments to Sections 111 and 116 removed livestock from the list of properties liable to confiscation following a conviction.

Addressing residents yesterday at Polisi Mwandoya Grounds in Kisesa Constituency, Meatu District, Simiyu Region, yesterday, Dr Nchemba said the payments followed directives he had issued to the ministries of Finance, and Natural Resources and Tourism to address claims by livestock keepers who had won their cases in court.

“I directed the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism to address the cases of livestock keepers whose animals were confiscated but who later went to court and won their cases because the law had shortcomings.

In some areas, the confiscation did not follow the proper procedures. In other cases, livestock were seized in the morning, taken to court in the afternoon and sold later that evening,” he said.

He added, “I have been informed by the Minister for Finance that the government has already started paying the outstanding claims, with approximately 3.8bn/- paid so far.”

Dr Nchemba assured affected residents who had already submitted their claims to the relevant authorities that they would be compensated, urging them not to worry about their payments.

“If the confiscated cattle have already died, they will not be returned, but their owners will receive compensation equivalent to their value,” he said.

Dr Nchemba said the previous law had caused economic hardship to many pastoralist families, some of which lost entire herds despite only a few animals being linked to alleged offences.

He added that the livestock confiscation issue was among the concerns raised during election campaigns, which President Samia Suluhu Hassan had promised to address.

“One of the concerns you raised with President Samia Suluhu Hassan during the election campaigns was the confiscation of livestock. She listened to your concerns and directed a review of the law. Today, we are pleased to confirm that the law permitting the confiscation of livestock has been repealed,” he said.

He added, “The government had identified shortcomings in the law, which had pushed many livestockkeeping families into poverty. You do not need to explain to me the hardships suffered by such families because I grew up in a pastoralist community and understand the importance of livestock to our families,” he said.

Dr Nchemba said the government is also working to amend other laws with similar shortcomings to address concerns raised by citizens.

Meanwhile, the Prime Minister said the cotton purchasing will be liberalised from the next season following an agreement reached between the Ministry of Agriculture and stakeholders to remove existing restrictions and revive production.

He directed the ministry to ensure the agreement is implemented, barriers to cotton buying are removed and farmers continue to access essential production inputs.

Dr Nchemba said the decision followed concerns raised by Members of Parliament and local leaders over declining cotton production in Meatu District, where output had dropped significantly.

“I held a meeting with Members of Parliament and local leaders, who explained how cotton production had declined. They told me that production in Meatu District, which previously contributed significantly to the region’s total output, had fallen to levels comparable to those of the entire region,” he said.

He said he subsequently directed the Ministry of Agriculture to meet stakeholders, including regional leaders, Members of Parliament and private sector representatives, to agree on measures to revive the crop.

“I directed the ministry to engage stakeholders and agree on a better framework for revitalising cotton production. They have since held consultations and reached an agreement. Starting next season, all restrictions on cotton purchasing will be lifted, allowing buyers to operate freely,” he said.

The Prime Minister, however, stressed the need to ensure that the agreed arrangement also secures a reliable supply of essential agricultural inputs to cotton farmers.

“I urge the ministry and stakeholders to ensure that the agreement is fully implemented to revive cotton production, a crop that has long been synonymous with Simiyu Region and its districts,” he said.