Respect for state reserved areas will avert conflict, people told

THE Ministry of Lands, Housing and Human Settlement Development has asked the public to stop now common habit of invading public places and other government agencies to avoid land conflicts.

The call was given before the National Assembly here yesterday by the Deputy Minister for the ministry, Ms Angelina Mabula, when answering a question by Silyvestry Koka (Kibaha Urban-CCM).

The deputy minister also appealed to Members of Parliament (MPs) and other leaders in different capacity to join hands to provide education to the people to refrain from such practices which were at the time common.

Answering the question, the MP explained that the government had in good faith returned a portion of Mitramba Farm, situated in Pangani Ward, Kibaha Urban to the people, who were living in the area.

The legislator also wanted to know the government about plan of reallocating to the people the remaining portion. The Deputy Minister explained that the farm in question was owned by the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries.

According to her, the ministry had acquired the farm after paying compensation to previous owners and the size of the farm was 4,000 hectares. However, shortly later after the compensation, some people invaded the farm.

To solve the conflict, the deputy minister said the Ministry with the local government authorities agreed to put temporary demarcations. She said that in 2007 the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries resurveyed the farm inconsideration of the boundaries as agreed in 2004. After such a survey there was introduction of Plot No. 34 with 1037.81 hectares. The invaded area had 2963 hectares.

Ms Mabula added that the invaded farm was handed over to Kibaha Town Council for panning and distribution to the people. On occasions, she said, her ministry, in cooperation with owners, the Coastal Regional Commissioner Office, Kibaha District Commissioner and the residents around, have severally met in attempt to solve the problem.

She said there was, for instance, there was a meeting held on March 4, this year that brought together a team of experts from Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries Ministry, Regional and district authorities, director of mapping and survey and zonal assistant land commissioner.

The purpose of the meeting was to prove the boundaries and documentations for complainants inside the farm. Currently, the deputy minister said, they were waiting the outcome of the implementation report still worked upon by experts.

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Talks on Uganda-Tanzania crude oil pipeline takes off

OFFICIALS from Uganda and Tanzania yesterday convened for the first time to discuss work plan for the development of the proposed 8.7 trillion/-crude oil export pipeline.

The Ugandan Minister for Energy and Minerals Development, Eng Irene Muloni, told reporters in Dar es Salaam yesterday that the meeting held at Mwalimu Julius Nyerere Convention Centre in Dar es Salaam, cleared a path for the commencement of the crucial project that would benefit both countries.

“Today marks the beginning of the commencement of the pipeline, we need support from everyone including communities and the media, so that plans put in place can succeed,” she noted Eng Muloni said in their first meeting focus was on defining the project structure and its timeline in which they want it to be completed before 2020.

The 1,400km pipeline will run from Hoima District in the Albertine Graben through Masaka and Mutukula in Uganda to Bukoba, Biharamulo, Shinyanga and finally to the Indian Ocean port of Tanga in Tanzania.

The meeting was attended by officials from companies with stake in the discovered oil in Uganda, including Total E&P of France, Tullow Oil of United Kingdom as well as China National Offshore Oil Corporation.

Meanwhile, the Minister for Energy and Minerals, Prof Sospeter Muhongo, said that the meeting was in response to a directive by heads of state of the two countries who wished to see the project taking off immediately.

“We will be having another meeting on 26 May in Hoima, in which experts will present to us further steps to take in accomplishing this work,” said Prof Muhongo. According to Eng Muloni, the oil pipeline construction work will also involve building an oil refinery plant which will cost about 4.7bn/-.

The government of Tanzania will be involved in its construction through the Public Private Partnership (PPP). Prof Muhongo said 40 per cent of the shares in the oil refinery construction have been given to East African Countries (EAC) which means each country will have eight per cent of shares. Expounding further, he said the shares will cost Tanzania 150.4bn/-.

Mechanism on proper way to buy them was being put in place and that the private sector will be involved in the process, he added. Last Saturday, Uganda chose the Tanzanian route to export its crude oil amid competition from Kenya, which also wanted to clinch the deal to transport oil to yet to be constructed Lamu Port in North-Eastern Kenya.

President Yoweri Museveni made the decision to construct the pipeline through Tanzania during the 13th Northern Corridor Integration Projects (NCIP) Summit in Kampala, which was also attended by President Paul Kagame and Uhuru Kenyatta of Rwanda and Kenya, respectively.

The envisaged pipeline through Tanzania will be of benefit not only to Uganda and Tanzania but other countries in the region such as Kenya, South Sudan, Rwanda, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo(DRC).

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Dar City Council sells shares in UDA

DAR ES SALAAM City Council's (DCC) ownership in Usafiri Dar es Salaam (UDA) has officially ceased following Simon Group's payment for the 51 per cent shares in the company.

Treasury Registrar (TR) Lawrence Mafuru told journalists in the city yesterday that reports from the city council indicate that DCC has received the money and certified the transaction.

"The legitimate owners of UDA are now the government (49 per cent) and Simon Group (51 per cent)," said Mr Mafuru, noting that the DCC no longer owns shares in the transport company.

UDA, therefore, partners with the government in operating the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project, with the government controlling the project's revenues. Earlier, the city council sued Simon Group, demanding payment for the 51 per cent shares by today.

"Had Simon Group not paid the money by April 30, they would have forfeited the shares, but reports we have show that they have paid," said Mr Mafuru.

He said Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA) has started computing the tax liability from DCC, another evidence that the council has received the amount, which he declined to state, saying Dar es Salaam City Mayor was well placed to provide it.

After the tax computation and payment, the Business Registration and Licencing Agency will transfer ownership to the government and Simon Group.

Simon Group in 2015 sought court injunction, restricting the government from UDA activities, but it was later established that the claimed sale of the 41 per cent government shares in the company was illegal, leading to the case dismissal. The government is now fully involved in UDA.

The TR said as per the Controller and Auditor General (CAG) directive on strict control over government assets, his office will keep a close eye on UDA, which is the majority shareholder in the BRT project. "We will start by addressing all the wrongdoings in this project and effectively manage its operations," said Mr Mafuru.

The controversies in UDA ownership started after the board of directors attempted to sell the government's 49 shares in the company without having the legal mandate to do so.

Only the cabinet has powers to authorise sale of government shares in any company but, according to the TR, there is no records showing that the cabinet had ever passed that verdict.

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JPM spits fire over corrupt law enforcers

PRESIDENT John Magufuli yesterday pledged to allocate more resources to the law enforcers but condemned frauds in the force, threatening stern legal measures against the embezzlers.

The president ordered the police force and the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) to perform their duties, with the national interest at hearts. Dr Magufuli, addressing Regional Police Commanders, Principal State Attorneys and Regional Crimes Officers in their two-day meeting here, acknowledged challenges impeding the performance of the police, promising to address them head-on.

He vowed to marshal more resources to support smooth execution of the force duties, cautioning them against the misuse of even the meagre funds availed to them.

The president cited misappropriation in procurement of police accessories and uniforms as well as some shoddy contracts that the police have entered with investors as critical issues that weaken the police activities.

He particularly questioned the contract between the force and the investor on the Oysterbay development project. “Oysterbay is a very prime place but you (police) have entered on contracts that are best known to yourselves ... someone was given the area and is now developing it," charged the president, wondering whether the project is indeed in the public interest.

He questioned why the force could not have acquired the title deed for the land and used it as collateral to get loans for the construction of houses to accommodate the police officers. “Let me be open here .... I want you (police) to understand the direction I want you to go,” he stressed.

The president asked the DDP office to work with integrity, expressing his disappointment over the DDP office's failure to settle court cases despite having enough lawyers.

“I appeal to the state attorneys and the police's criminal investigation department to always give priority to the country’s interests … I am saying this because some state attorneys do receive tips to mishandle cases at the expense of the public," he charged.

The head of state charged that the corrupt practices by the state attorneys lead to conspiracy with their private counterparts, resulting into sloppy handling of the cases. He underscored the need for the police force to abstain from bad conducts like engagement in drugs and illegal weapons.

Earlier, the police decried financial constraints. The force had told the president that lack of enough funds was among the challenges that leads to poor working environment.

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Z’bar illicit logs furtive routes in limelight

PERSISTENT accusations that the Zanzibar Forestry Department has been turning a blind eye and providing a safe haven to logs and timber smuggled from various sources, especially the Mainland,

seem to be receiving noticeable attention after inauguration of a new cabinet in the Isles.

Newly appointed Zanzibar Minister for Agriculture, Natural Resources, Livestock and Fisheries Hamad Rashid Mohamed has exclusively informed The Guardian about a pending comprehensive joint operation to be mounted by the two governments.

“I cannot afford to be witness to deliberate disregard of established laws and regulations. The concern raised about clandestine conduit of logs in the Isles does not only come from Mainland forest authorities but even from other countries such as Madagascar,” the minister said, adding:

“They accuse Zanzibar of being the route for smuggled forest products. My office will not remain silent on this as destruction of natural resources will affect all of us.”

He elaborated that he had taken a personal initiative to seek audience with appropriate authorities on the Mainland “to carry out an in-depth assessment to come up with an effective strategy to combat illegal logging and enforce a ban on timber exports for the benefit of the nation and the world at large.”

The minister sounded determined to make a difference in this war, insisting that the objective was beyond putting an end to smuggling of forest products.

“My office wants to make sure that a criminal does not find refuge on either side of the union. Crime committed on the mainland should adequately be addressed in Zanzibar, and vice-versa,” Mohamed said.

“We shall use all the tools in our possession and personnel to intercept smuggled goods. Revenue authorities must be assisted to perform their duties accordingly,” he added.

For more than two decades shared intelligence reports have revealed uninterrupted night operations between Zanzibar and the coastline of Dar es Salaam, Bagamoyo and Tanga.

Mangrove forest reserves in Rufiji, in Coast region, have been particularly targeted for high-value logs. The logs have found a ready market overseas, denying the government billions of shillings in revenue.

Preliminary investigation by forest stakeholders have revealed that more than 800 tonnes of timber are furtively delivered in Zanzibar on a weekly basis ready for export.

Rice cultivation is increasingly gaining popularity in the Rufiji delta as rich people hire locals to clear extensive areas for paddy cultivation. The delta soil is always wet.

Dr Cyprian Shilla from Sokoine University of Agriculture embraced the initiative by the minister, saying that being in Zanzibar for research work some years back offered him the opportunity to learn first hand about an unfailing arrival of fleets of sailing dhows loaded with timber, logs and charcoal.

“I once encountered a secret repackaging location in one of the islands that I visited for my academic research work. I reported the incident to the former director of Zanzibar’s Forestry Services. However, he appeared quite unconcerned.

“It is quite heartening to hear a new minister taking the matter seriously for joint action,” Shilla remarked.

Former Director of Forestry and Beekeeping Division in the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism Dr Felician Kilahama equally commended the desire by the Zanzibar minister to bring to an end logs smuggling decimating forest reserves on the Mainland.

“Since the minister is willing to join hands with the mainland counterparts, frequent day and night surveillance patrols must be instituted and sustained. The full force of the famous Zanzibar Anti-smuggling Squad (KMKM) must be unleashed to rescue our natural resources,” he observed.

He spoke strongly about the need for community support of technocrats when they mount public awareness on sustainable harvesting of forest products as well as other attached benefits.

“Forests provide perfect fodder for beekeeping. This is an enterprise that seems to be given little attention. Some individuals think of quick gains from forests without considering their gradual turn to deserts. Proper seal off of the Zanzibar route will make a big difference in conservation efforts on the mainland,” he remarked.

A report by WWF in 2006 indicated that Tanzania loses more than33,000 hectares of forest cover annually and the pace posed a serious threat to the survival of forest reserves.

A community participatory approach has been devised in some villages in Lindi, Morogoro and other regions, which has proved highly effective as villagers internalized the sense of ownership and thus protected forest reserves for collective benefits.

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8 Family Members Killed 'Execution-Style' in Ohio

8 Family Members 'Shot in the Head' in Ohio 'Execution-Style Killings,' Officials Say

At least eight family members are dead in what appeared to be "execution-style killings" today across four different locations in Pike County, Ohio, according to officials.

All eight victims -- believed to be seven adults and one 16-year-old -- appeared to have been "shot in the head." Seven of the victims were found in three homes on the same road in Peebles, said Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine and Pike County Sheriff Charles Reader in a news conference this afternoon.

The eighth victim, an adult, was found later than the other victims at a fourth location in Piketon, officials said.

No arrests have been made, and authorities believe there is a high chance the individual or individuals who committed the homicides is/are still at large, armed and dangerous, DeWine said. He added that preliminary investigations showed that none of the eight deceased appeared to have committed suicide.

Some of the victims appeared to have been killed in their sleep early this morning and were found shot to death in their beds, DeWine said.

One victim, who appeared to be a mother, was killed lying in bed with a 4-day-old baby, he added.

John Minchillo/AP Photodia on Union Hill Road that approaches a crime scene, Friday, April 22, 2016, in Pike County, Ohio. Shootings with multiple fatalities were reported at this location.

Three children -- the 4-day-old baby, a 6-month-old baby and a 3-year-old -- were found alive at the crime scenes, according to Reader.

Authorities are still working on positively identifying each of the deceased individually and notifying next-of-kin, he added.

DeWine said that while residents of the county "should not panic," they should "be careful."

At a news conference Friday night, DeWine noted that authorities have interviewed more than 30 people, though he declined to characterize any of them as "persons of interest."

“There are different theories that we’re looking at," DeWine said, noting that investigators are still working the crime scene.

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Agents with the Ohio Attorney General's Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) are leading the ongoing investigation at the request of Pike County Sheriff's Office, officials said. Numerous other law enforcement agencies from nearby counties are offering support.

"This is a devastating time for a family," Sheriff Reader said at Friday night's news conference, also noting that the crime has shocked the rural community. “We’ve never had a shooting with eight victims.”

"We’ll find who did this," Reader pledged.

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Kilimanjaro regional routes for clean up

KILIMANJARO Regional Commissioner (RC), Mr Said Meck Sadiki, has launched a campaign that will see a comprehensive clean up around Mount Kilimanjaro.

The RC urged tour companies to ensure neither their staff nor the tourists discard refuse during trekking up and down Africa’s highest mountain. He said the environment around the mountain should always be clean -- a situation that would help attract more tourists and earn the nation more foreign exchange.

He said the Government would take stern measures against anyone who discards litter. In the same vein the state would revoke licences of irresponsible tour guides companies and agents.

The campaign was launched at Marangu. “I appeal to you and your associations to make sure that when you take the tourists up and down the mountain no environmental degradation is done.

The routes and the environment should always stay clean,” said Mr Sadiki. He also issued a warning to people who harvest forest products in the half-mile zone of the mountain, directed responsible authorities to take action promptly.

Tanzania National Parks (Tanapa), Director General, Mr Allan Kijazi said his organization was doing all it could, night and day, to ensure that cleanliness is maintained around the mountain.

He said the mountain is one of the main sources of revenue to Tanapa, and hence the nation. “This mountain is important for the economy of the country. So, we are all duty-bound to make sure the environment is clean all the time,” said Mr Kijazi.

He expressed his appreciation on how Kilimanjaro National Park (Kinapa), works. It recently got an award as the most attractive tourist destination in Africa. Kinapa Chief Park Warden, Ms Betrita Loibooki, said the special campaign would take place for 10 days.

It brings together different tourism stakeholders, including tour operators, guides, cooks, porters as well as Tanapa and Kinapa officials.

“We do cleanliness regularly but this is a special one. It has been lined up in order to join hands with President John Magufuli in the cleanliness campaign which he initiated on December 9th, last year,” she said.

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