A CONSIGNMENT of maize that was seized at the small township of Himo and surrounding areas, Kilimanjaro region, allegedly to be smuggled out of the country has now been moved to Arusha awaiting stern measures against anyone defying the standing ban on such exports, including court charges under economic sabotage offences.
Kilimanjaro Regional Police Commander
Hamis Issa told The ‘Daily News’ yesterday that the maize was
transported under tight security and stored at the Arusha-based National
Milling Corporation (NMC) warehouses, awaiting potential internal
buyers.
A senior Kilimanjaro police officer said
that following a meeting with stakeholders, it was decided that since
seizure of the cereals was made within the country, it wasn’t necessary
to impound it; instead, a stern warning was issued against all who would
engage in such acts.
The official said Kilimanja ro police
had bolstered security across the region and that vehicles were no
longer allowed to transport maize toward Rombo, saying there wasn’t any
food ‘emergency’ within the district but rather an excess of cereal
harvests.
He said investigations were still
ongoing about those behind the shoddy dealings. “What is strange is that
maize was packed as if destined for long distance hauling … some of it
covered with canvases.
We have taken all of it to the national
milling (plant) in Arusha; it was hectic and the Moshi-Arusha road was
almost closed. From now, as in line with this directive, we will impound
both the maize and vehicles heading out of the country,” said the RPC.
A senior officer with the Kilimanjaro
regional secretariat availed told The ‘Daily News’ that all districts or
regions with food deficits should file applications so they could buy
from the consignment that was confiscated from the 104 trucks.
Acting Kilimanjaro Regional Commissioner
Mrs Anna Mghwira has since reiterated the government ban on food
exports -- announced by Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa last Monday –
saying the goods under the ban include maize, rice and sugar, arguing
the authorities knew the foodstuffs were destined to be smuggled because
the traders had resorted to using the rough
Siha-NgarenairobiKamwanga-Tarakea stretch of road instead of a a good
and short tarmac road from Moshi via Rombo.
The RC said all those involved -- in any
way – in the export, or attempted export, of food from the country
would be arrested and arraigned to court under the Economic and
Organised Crime Control Act, and that their vehicles would be seized and
put under police custody while maize would be confiscated to the
National Food Reserve Agency (NFRA) for good.
Ms Mghwira urged traders to use
available opportunities within the local market to meet their commercial
needs, and cautioned that police offi cers who used to devise illegal
routes and escort the perpetrators should decide now -- either to stop
their wicked ways or leave the force altogether -- before they face
legal measures.
She called upon the public to volunteer
information to state organs about such illegal businesses, and also
banned traders from buying crops straight from farmers’ fields.
She also directed the immigration
department to identify all foreigners engaged in such business and take
action against them. “After the prime minister’s directive, all citizens
in Kilimanjaro region should cooperate and work to end the export of
sugar and cereal products without the express permission,” Ms Mghwira
said.
The Premier issued the directive to
restrain exports of food crops, saying some parts of the country did not
get enough rains, and hence prone to famine. He called upon traders to
buy food from areas with excess and resell it to the ones facing
shortages.
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