Tanzania to 9,000 families: We’ll not evict you

Bunda/Mwanza. The government reiterated yesterday that it will not evict over 9,000 families living around Mwanza Airport and on land owned by the Tanzania People’s Defence Forces (TPDF) until property assessment is completed and compensation made.

This came up here yesterday during a trip involving eight cabinet ministers who are on a countrywide mission to deal with residents’ grievances.

The team, led by the minister for Lands, Housing and Human Settlements Development, William Lukuvi, was also expected to visit Bunda District in Mara Region yesterday.

Speaking in Mwanza, Mr Lukuvi said people around the areas should go about their daily undertakings without fear of being evicted until a lasting solution is found.

“We are here to collect information so we can advise the President accordingly. It is after we collect the information that we will be able to tell who will be required to leave and who will not.

“However, the entire process has to be undertaked in a peaceful manner. If you were told that you have encroached on institutional land, do not move. Similarly, if you were told not to develop the area where you currently live, abide by that until an official announcement is made,” said Mr Lukuvi.

He said a total of 11 streets in Ilemela are involved, in one way or the other, with claims of being built on part of the land allocated to Mwanza Airport and TPDF.

He ordered the Ilemela Municipal Council to identify land, which it will survey so that his ministry can lease it - on affordable prices - to those who will have to leave their current dwelling places.

“You just have to look for the land. If you find it, do let me know. If you don’t have the money for the surveying exercise, just tell me and we will know where to get it,” he said.

The Minister for Defense and National Service, Dr Hussein Mwinyi said the government wanted to bring the land dispute to an end, noting that those that have had their properties evaluated will be paid soon so they can leave the land in the hands of TPDF.

Apart from Mr Lukuvi and Dr Mwinyi, other members of the team include: minister for Livestock and Fisheries, Luhaga Mpina, Natural Resources and Tourism Minister and Dr Hamis Kigwangalla.

The list also include the minister of state in the President’s Office Regional Administration and Local Government, Suleiman Jaffo, minister of state in the Vice President’s Office responsible for environment, Januari Makamba, the minister for Water Prof Makame Mbarawa and Agriculture minister Japhet Hasunga.

During their visit the ministers are also expected to hold public rallies and address people in three villages namely Nyatwali, Tamau and Serengeti in the district aiming at identifying challenges they face in land ownership especially their long time dispute with the Serengeti National Park (Senapa).

The villages have engaged in land dispute with Senapa who have been making efforts to relocate the villagers allegedly for preserving wildlife routes.

Villagers on their side considered wildlife were destroying properties especially crops as wildlife passed in their route to water sources.

“You just have to look for the land. If you find it, do let me know. If you don’t have the money for the surveying exercise, just tell me and we will know where to get it,” he said.

The Minister for Defense and National Service, Dr Hussein Mwinyi said the government wanted to bring the land dispute to an end, noting that those that have had their properties evaluated will be paid soon so they can leave the land in the hands of TPDF.

Apart from Mr Lukuvi and Dr Mwinyi, other members of the team include: minister for Livestock and Fisheries, Luhaga Mpina, Natural Resources and Tourism Minister and Dr Hamis Kigwangalla.

The list also include the minister of state in the President’s Office Regional Administration and Local Government, Suleiman Jaffo, minister of state in the Vice President’s Office responsible for environment, Januari Makamba, the minister for Water Prof Makame Mbarawa and Agriculture minister Japhet Hasunga.

During their visit the ministers are also expected to hold public rallies and address people in three villages namely Nyatwali, Tamau and Serengeti in the district aiming at identifying challenges they face in land ownership especially their long time dispute with the Serengeti National Park (Senapa).

The villages have engaged in land dispute with Senapa who have been making efforts to relocate the villagers allegedly for preserving wildlife routes.

Villagers on their side considered wildlife were destroying properties especially crops as wildlife passed in their route to water sources.