LAND DISPUTES: State vows to act tough
PRIME Minister Kassim Majaliwa has instructed the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism and the Tanzania National Parks Authority (TANAPA), to furnish him with information on all land disputes between the authority and the citizens in the country.
To start with, the Premier directed them to meet with him at his office in Dodoma today at 2pm, to present candid and detailed report about the situation in Mbarali District, Mbeya Region.
The Prime Minister issued the directive in the August House here yesterday, instructing the ministry executives to leave immediately for Mbarali to follow up on complaints about the ongoing land dispute in the area and inform him on the situation at the today’s meeting.
The PM reacted in response to Mbarali Member of Parliament, Francis Mtega (CCM), who had sought for the Speaker’s guidance on regard to the ongoing land dispute.
In his question, the legislator demanded the National Assembly to suspend other activities including the ongoing ministerial budget debate and instead, discuss the urgent matter of national importance, specifically that of Mbarali, where he said residents in the area are being beaten, humiliated and their livestock confiscated by TANAPA warden, allegedly for encroaching onto the protected areas.
He said the government had said that there was an ongoing process to evaluate the boundaries of the villages and demarcate them as protected areas.
The MP said the process was meant to save the people’s life and their properties. It was expected, the legislator argued that those found in protected areas would be evicted and paid compensation for them to relocate to other areas.
However, Mr Mtega said that since the remaining areas within the reserve are important for the economy of Mbarali and are a major source of rice farming, they requested the government to allow the residents to continue with their farming activities until the process within the government is completed and a new announcement is made to relocate them.
“Surprisingly, on May 6th this year, a helicopter landed in the village of Mwanadhali carrying Tanapa’s paramilitary officers, who proceeded to attack the people, they started beating them and in the process looted 250 herds of cattle,” said Mtega.
He said that during the incident, one of the pastoralists who surrendered and left his livestock was so affected psychologically that he wanted to kill himself and it took great effort from the people to stop him.
He added: “Also, there is another young man who refused to allow livestock to be taken. He was thoroughly beaten, before he was rushed to hospital in a serious condition. I have pictures in my phone and I am sure most of you will break down into tears if you see what they did to that young man.”
Elaborating, he noted that in the incident, there were women who were stripped naked and their bodies burned while being whipped and brutally beaten.
The MP told Parliament that the people were saved from further beatings after the intervention of the helicopter pilot, who pleaded with the park officials to spare the lives of the people.
He said that Tanapa officials shot two goats and three dogs before they left.
“These actions, if the government does not take immediate action will cause great concern. CCM officials in the area, including councilors are wondering what to tell the people. This situation is dividing the people from their government, it is a serious issue,” he emphasised.
Responding, Speaker of the National Assembly, Dr Tulia Ackson, requested the Prime Minister to provide an explanation because in his response to the questions earlier, he answered a similar question regarding land conflicts pitting Tanapa and ‘wananchi’.
“I would like to beg the people to remain calm as the government takes measures against this matter. However, I have already summoned the ministry, the board of Tanapa and the executives of Tanapa tomorrow (today) 2pm in the evening to come to my office to provide information on the conflict areas countrywide,” explained the Prime Minister, while responding to the argument.
He said that after receiving the information, they will immediately organise a tour to meet the local and regional authorities in all areas fin land disputes.
When asked by the Speaker when the ministry and the executives should leave for Mbarali, Majaliwa said they should leave immediately and ensure they provide further context and insights because he wanted a full report on the ongoing dispute.
The Premier said that the government had reviewed a total of 32 villages and came to the conclusion that 27 villages are not interfering with conservation activities.
He said they allowed those villages to continue farming because they had already started preparations for farming and stay until their crops are ready for harvest, while the government makes an assessment and then they will be informed on when to leave.
He said three villages were forced to leave because they were in the area that is a complete wetland.
