The government has warned the Tanzania Agriculture Support Organisation (Taso) against defrauding participants at the agricultural exhibition (Nane Nane).

 The government has warned the Tanzania Agriculture Support Organisation (Taso) against defrauding participants at the agricultural exhibition (Nane Nane).

Taso, which has been the chief supervisor of the agricultural exhibition, was recently banned from engaging in activities related to the farmers’ day.

Speaking yesterday on behalf of Dodoma and Singida Regional Commissioners, the Chemba District Commissioner, Mr Simon Odunga, reiterated that the farmers’ day preparations were under the office of the Dodoma Regional Administrative Secretary (Ras).

“Participants should never dare communicate with Taso. The organisation has been disbanded, so all activities are now coordinated by the Ras’ office,” he said.

Mr Odunga explained that the former Taso leadership was supposed to hand over all of Taso’s resources to the Ras office since July 28, but they have yet to comply with the directive. “They were directed to hand over all documents to the Ras office, but they have not yet done so. If they continue defying the directive, we will have force them using state organs,” he said.

“If you move around the exhibition ground, you will notice that some people have already been offered houses. We will have to conduct a verification exercise again,” he said.

Mr Odunga explained that this year’s Nanenane exhibition would be opened by the National Assembly Speaker, Job Ndugai, and closed by the minister for State in the President’s Office (Regional Administration and Local Government), George Simbachawene.

He said entrance fees are pegged at Sh1,000 for adults and Sh500 for children. However, he explained that those wishing to view wild animals would have to pay Sh2,000 for adults and Sh1,000 for children and vehicles would be charged Sh5,000 each while a ticket for the entire season will be sold at Sh30,000.

When asked over the allegation, immediate former Taso chairman Mr Alexander Nyauringo denied selling pieces of land, stressing that they stopped all activities after the organisation was deregistered and that had already handed the office to the Ras.

He clarified that Taso’s properties belonged to its members and not the government and that the organisation had its Board of Trustees and members, who were the owners of everything.

“Taso members have appealed to the minister responsible and we have not received any response, but surprisingly we are told to hand over the properties without any official letter giving us instructions,” Mr Nyauringo said.

However, he said the members of Taso had already written a letter of appeal against the striking off of the organisation and that they were waiting for the decision of the minister.