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Home Op/Ed Editorial Comments Govt should rein on the Babati conflict
Govt should rein on the Babati conflict  Send to a friend
Monday, 30 January 2012 22:33

This week the British High commissioner in Tanzania, Ms Diane Corner, brought to our attention an issue that has serious implications on our economy, but which is yet to be approached with the zeal it deserves.

The land conflict in Babati District pitting commercial farmers and livestock keepers has continued to fester unabated. Even with a wide scale of destruction of property, mainly through arson by disgruntled villagers, as well as loss of lives, we are yet to see concerted efforts by the relevant authorities and members of the community in addressing the issue.

Most of the victims of this destruction at Kiru Valley in Manyara Region are foreign investors who own estates in the area. Without any authorities stepping in to quell the tension it won’t be long before we see some of these investors leaving the area and relocating their capital elsewhere.

It is an undeniable fact that foreign investments contribute significantly to our country’s economy. For instance, a country fact sheet that accompanied a World Investment Report in 2000 showed that the United Kingdom topped the list of ten countries that invest in Tanzania with more than 320 projects.

The only way we can protect the huge foreign investment in the country while sending the right message to new investors is by ensuring that local communities coexist with the former peacefully.

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Comments  

 
0 #2 Babu 2012-02-02 22:54
Everyone needs to understand that these farmers have invested and have bought the farms from the Govenment and are second and third generation farmers,they have not grabed fertile land but have worked and made huge investments to make these farms fertile!!!
Local farmers are willing to negotiate with the local villagers but the Govenmnet needs to take an active part and solve the issues of land and herdsmen.Villagers want the land which is dear to these farmers and the land the farmers have given to the villagers is not enough for them as more and more people move into these troubled areas to create''Political'' problems.
The British farmers needs to be compensated for the destruction of the buildings and machinery.
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0 #1 m.ali 2012-02-01 11:15
If you depend so much on investors to come and grab the land, what would be the benefit for thr local people. Wew are misled by the word investors. The lands belonging to the villages must be hired by the investors so that the poor Tanzania would benefit. And one of the conditions to the so called investors must also plough two acres of the land for the locals to grow maize. How are we going to eradiacte poverty when all fertile lands are given to foreignors. Capitalism has failed as we can see the turmoil in USA and Europe. We need to solve Tanzania problems using our Tanzania methods
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