Premier calls for calm as he visits riot-hit areas in Mtwara

 

By Citizen Reporters  

 

In Summary

e also visited the CCM office in Mtwara Rural District, Mitengo Primary Court, Mtonya Mikindani Ward office, Mtwara Urban MP Hasnein Murji’s office and Mtwara Rural MP Hawa Ghasia’s residential house, which were all destroyed by rioters.

Mtwara. Prime Minister Mizengo Pinda yesterday visited Mtwara Town to inspect areas affected by last week’s violence.

He also laid the foundation stone for a sprawling cement manufacturing plant.

The plant -- property of Dangote Cement Company -- will have the capacity of producing three million tonnes of cement annually once established.

Speaking during the laying of the foundation stone, Mr Pinda urged Mtwara residents to be patient and support government plans, which upon being successfully implemented would improve the economy of Mtwara and the nation at large

He also revealed that so far there were over 50 firms that were interested in investing in Mtwara Region.

Mr Pinda said once the cement plant starts operating, it would create over 1,000 jobs for Mtwara residents.

“There will be more than 300 cargo vehicles coming to Mtwara to take cement for distribution to other parts of the country,” he said.

During his morning tour of areas affected by last week’s riots when people protested against the construction of a gas pipeline from Mtwara to Dar es Salaam, Mr Pinda received a report on the property that was destroyed.

He also visited the CCM office in Mtwara Rural District, Mitengo Primary Court, Mtonya Mikindani Ward office, Mtwara Urban MP Hasnein Murji’s office and Mtwara Rural MP Hawa Ghasia’s residential house, which were all destroyed by rioters.

Presenting a report before the Prime Minister, Mtonya Ward acting executive officer Yusuf Kaliwanja said the value of the office was Sh32 milion, while the stalls owned by traders in Mtwara Town, which were also destroyed, were valued at Sh33 milion. He added that the value of the MP’s office was yet to be established.

However, Mtwara Urban MP and other legislators in the district were conspicuously absent during the Prime Minister’s tour.

However, Mr Murji later said confusion surrounded the schedule.

 

“I was invited but the timetable did not indicate that the Prime Minister would visit residential areas of the affected people that is why I did not show up,” said Mr Murji.

He said because he represents his people in the constituency, it was not important to visit only areas of government leaders, promising that he would today visit all people who were affected by the riots.

He added that Mtwara residents were against construction of a gas pipeline because it was risking employment opportunities for locals and that people were not ready to see “aliens” taking all opportunities their land could provide.

Additional reporting by Elisha Magolanga