Five suspended over dubious land sale

DODOMA: FIVE leaders of the Kibaigwa Township Authority in Kongwa District, Dodoma Region, have been suspended pending investigations into allegations that they sold land reserved for grazing at Ndurugumi area.

It is alleged that the sale of the land fuelled conflicts between farmers and pastoralists in the area, prompting local authorities to intervene to avert a possible escalation.

Kongwa District Commissioner (DC) Mayeka Simon suspended the leaders when he visited the Kibaigwa Township Authority to resolve an ongoing land dispute between farmers and pastoralists, in which farmers had encroached on grazing land while pastoralists had established settlements in the same area.

Those suspended are Township Executive Officer Foska Mgovano, Kibaigwa Ward Executive Officer Venant Tibandolage, Township Chairperson Nicolus Iyanex, Karume Hamlet Chairperson Stanley Myoka and Sabasaba Hamlet Chairperson Kedmon Mbaluka.

They have been suspended for 90 days pending the completion of investigations by a special committee.

“We want to know the location of the 600 acres designated for farming, the 2,000 acres set aside for grazing, and why there are settlements in grazing areas and wells with one-year contracts in farming zones,” said DC Mayeka.

He directed the Kongwa District Council Executive Director, in collaboration with the Lands Department, to ensure that land is used in accordance with approved plans.

He also ordered all pastoralists who have established settlements in designated grazing areas to vacate the land within 90 days.

For his part, Kongwa District Urban Planning Officer Meshack Mlaponi explained that the conflict over encroachment into farming and grazing areas dates back to 2007, when Kibaigwa was granted township status and Ndurugumi Village incorporated into Kibaigwa.

Mr Mlaponi said some leaders have been mentioned in connection with issuing forged documents to allocate the land to residents.

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Meanwhile, Kibaigwa Ward Councillor Daudi Kweka said poor supervision of designated land boundaries by leaders had contributed to the conflicts, pledging to reorganise and correct mistakes made in the past.

Sabasaba Hamlet Chairperson Kedmon Mbaluka said leaders had initially allowed pastoralists to graze livestock in the area but not to establish settlements.

However, following floods, pastoralists were temporarily allowed to settle in the grazing area, after which some failed to vacate.

Residents who spoke before the Kongwa DC urged the government to regularly transfer officials working closely with communities, arguing that prolonged stay in one area sometimes leads to over-familiarity and negligence of duties.

They also called on the government to hold accountable leaders who violate ethics in public service, instead of merely transferring them to other areas where they may continue with malpractice.