State promises to protect investors

Kilombero. The Minister for Lands, Housing and Human Settlements Development, Mr William Lukuvi, has assured investors that the government has no intention of dispossessing local and foreign investors of their lands.

The minister also reassured investors that the government has no grudges against them. He emphatically pointed out, however, that the government would take action against investors who flout the terms of their contracts.

The minister made the remarks at a session where he received complaints and briefings related to land disputes from residents and leaders of Kilombero District in Morogoro Region,He said the use of force, protests and waving placards would not help people who grab pieces of land to own them, but pursue legal means by filing complaints to relevant authorities, against people who had failed to develop land that the had acquired.

“This government has a problem with those who own plantations but don’t develop them, but use the title deeds related to such land to secure bank loans. If one fails to repay the loan, the bank will possess and sell the farm.

The law protects both the property owner and the bank and that’s why we want banking institutions to give loans to those owning large farms for agricultural development anywhere in the country,” Mr Lukuvi stressed.

Earlier, Mangula A and B councilors in Kilombero District wanted to know why the ownership of chunks of land by St Mary’s International Schools director Rev Gertrude Lwakatare should not be retransferred to the residents. Lands officers Syabomi Mwaipopo and Msafiri Mdule said Rev Lwakatare owned the areas legally after buying them from the government.