Financial hiccup frustrates land bank arrangements

ALVAR MWAKYUSA

LACK of funds has hampered plans by the government to establish a land bank to be issued to potential investors, the Parliamentary Committee on Land, Natural Resources and Environment was told yesterday.

“During the current fiscal year, a total of 5bn/- was allocated to purchase 200,000 acres of land countrywide, but we haven’t received a shilling so far,” the Permanent Secretary (PS) in the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Human Settlements Development, Mr Yamungu Kayandabila, said.

He noted, however, that the envisaged Land Compensation Fund to be established in the next financial year will enable the government to establish the envisaged land bank.

He as well noted that the ministry had sought a permit from the President’s Office (Good Governance and Public Service) to recruit 252 employees to curb a shortage of human resources.

The Deputy Minister in the ministry, Ms Angelina Mabula and a team of high-ranking officials appeared before the Parliamentary Committee in Dar es Salaam yesterday to discuss various issues pertaining to land.

Earlier, the Acting Commissioner of Lands, Ms Mary Makondo, said the ministry was currently working to set indicative prices for surveyed plots of land.

“The cap price is meant to control exorbitant charges which are currently pegged by local authorities in many parts of the country,” Ms Makondo stated. For his part, the Director of Urban Planning, Prof John Lupala, said plans were underway to conduct master plans in 30 townships countrywide.

“Local authorities are supposed to conduct the exercise, but they are held back by shortage of funds and human resources. The ministry, in collaboration with the World Bank, are now working on a programme that aims at supporting them,” Prof Lupala explained.

Members of the Parliamentary Committee which is chaired by Special Seats MP Mary Mwanjelwa, took issues with persistent land-conflicts pitting villages on one hand as well as investors and reserved areas on the other.

They also expressed concern on recurring conflicts between farmers and pastoralists and urged the government to take action to end the disputes which have caused loss of lives and property.