Task force to check land conflicts

ROSE ATHUMANI in Dodoma

THE government has formed a task force consisting of officials and experts of three ministries to address recurring land conflicts between farmers, pastoralists and authorities managing national parks and game reserves.

It is also going to distribute some parts of national ranches to pastoralists to expand grazing land in the country to address the same.

The Prime Minister, Mr Kassim Majaliwa, told the National Assembly here that the officials and experts had been drawn from the ministries of Lands, Housing and Human Settlements Development; Natural Resources and Tourism, and Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries.

The premier made the remarks when responding to a question by Mr Joseph Kakunda (Sikonge-CCM) during the ‘Questions- to-the-Prime- Minister’s session. The MP wanted to know measures taken by the government to address land conflicts in the country as per Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) 2015 election manifesto.

“The CCM 2015 manifesto directs the government to demarcate new areas for pastoralists and increasing them from 1m hectares to 5 million hectares.

When will the government appoint a national team to look into this issue and provide recommendations for implementation?” Mr Kakunda queried.

In his response, Mr Majaliwa said the task force from the three ministries will among others identify borderlines and then identify available land, which will then be demarcated to provide land area for farmers, livestock keepers, industries and settlement areas.

“Through the proper land use management plans, we will have pastoralists in their own areas and farmers in theirs to control land conflicts,” he noted.equipped with all facilities needed, including tents to provide emergency shelters and food,” Mr Majaliwa explained.

He was responding to a question from Ms Maria Nasoro Kisanga (Special Seats-CCM), who wanted to know government’s plans to safeguard the public from disasters and food shortage following heavy rains across the country that have caused floods and destroyed crops.

Mr Majaliwa stated the government was prepared to assist all Tanzanians affected by the heavy rains and, already an evaluation of the extent of the damages is underway under the district councils, which form parts of the disaster committees.

The premier said government experts on the matter were already on site evaluating the extent of damage with a view to providing emergency response where needed. “Experts on site will present a report to the disaster management department in my office and we will supply the assistance requested,”he told the House.

Mr Majaliwa noted that the government had enough food reserves to cater for those affected and the distribution exercise had already begun, adding that the government is also preparing for future disasters.

“We will specially use this season to buy food for storage purposes from areas that were not affected by the floods in readiness for future disasters. I call upon the public to cultivate more crops so that we can have enough food reserves to cater for such disasters,” he urged.

The premier warned those living in valley and lowland areas to move out of the places, directing local leaders to help relocate them to better areas. Mr Majaliwa extended his sympathy to all Tanzanians who have been affected by the recent rains that claimed some lives and destroyed properties.