Govt collects sh200 million on cattle sale

 The government has collected over Sh200 million after selling cattle at auction who entered the country from the neighboring country Kenya.

The auction was conducted at Mwanga District under the directive given the Court.

Speaking to the journalists today in the city, Minister for Livestock and Fisheries Mr Luhaga Mpina said the government will continue to conduct further operations to remove migrant cattle entering the country’s border from neighboring countries through Katavi, Kigoma, Tanga, Mara, Ruvuma, and Arusha regions.

He also called upon the regional authorities and districts to operate similar operations in their respective areas within seven days.

“I and my staff will re-conduct the similar special operation tomorrow,” he said.

He further established that the government was not ready to incur costs for treating diseases caused by the migrant cattle from neighboring countries.

He also noted that the livestock were causing environmental damage including erosion and contributed significantly to land based conflicts between farmers and pastoralists in the country.

Mpina further explained that the operation being carried out in the regions only focuses to remove migrant livestock, insisting the move has nothing to do political and economic relations with Kenyan government.

Commenting on Tanzania’s livestock, Mr Mpina noted that government has embarked on labelling Tanzania’s cattle in a bid to make it easier for conducting the countrywide operation aimed to remove the migrant cattle entering the country from neighboring countries.