Sadiki directs DCs to curb smugglers’ routes

DAILY NEWS Reporter

Kilimanjaro Regional Commissioner (RC) Saidi Meki Sadiki

DISTRICT Commissioners of Rombo, Mwanga and Same have been directed to control 264 ‘panya routes’ used by unscrupulous businessmen to smuggle in illegal commodities and immigrants.

The ‘panya routes’ have made the border between Kenya and Tanzania too porous to an extent that it makes its control by security organs a bit difficult and jeopardising the security of the region and the nation at large.

These remarks were made recently by Kilimanjaro Regional Commissioner (RC) Saidi Meki Sadiki shortly after swearing in district commissioners in the region.

RC Sadiki said the smugglers routes place the security of the region in jeopardy as well as the economy because most of the commodities imported through those routes do not pay tax.

He also stressed on ensuring the region does not go back to the years where schools lacked desks, forcing the government to come up with special directives to ensure all schools have desks.

RC Sadiki said before the presidential directive, needs for school desks in Kilimanjaro region were at 133,880 for primary schools and 96,704 for secondary schools.

Following efforts from different stakeholders and the government, the region has managed to rehabilitate and make new desks totaling 144,905 out of the needed 133,880 desks for primary schools with a surplus of 11,025 desks.

While for secondary schools, the region managed to make and rehabilitate desks totaling 100,601 out of the 96,704 desks required remaining with a surplus of 3,897 desks.