JK orders return of privatised land

BY THE GUARDIAN REPORTER

6th November 2012

                        President Jakaya Kikwete

President Jakaya Kikwete yesterday ordered beneficiaries of the privatised Basotu Wheat farms in Hanang district, Manyara Region to return the portions of land they acquired from the government after failing to develop them.

The president said the farms were not given to the individuals so that they could also rent them to other people for wheat growing.

He gave the order when addressing Katesh residents on his way to Singida Region where he is scheduled to make a two-day official visit to inspect development projects.

To ensure his order is put to force, President Kikwete directed Manyara Regional Commissioner Elaston Mbwilo to convene a a meeting of the Regional Development Committee to discuss the matter and put forward recommendations to the government.

“I appeal to people who acquired government land to ensure that they use the farms for the purposes which they had applied for,” he said.

The president gave the order after Special Seats Member of Parliament Rose Kamili of Chadema complained that villagers who acquired the land hard failed to develop it.

Meanwhile, the president on Sunday laid a foundation stone for the construction of a water project in Singida.

The project, whose construction started in 2009 and ends next month, is expected to supply water to thousands of villagers in the region.

According to an official of the Sustainable Water and Sanitation in Africa (SUWASA), the project will cost US $19.7million (approximately of 31.126bn/-) upon its completion.

The official said out of the project cost, the government had contributed US $10.42million (approximately of 16.46bn/-) while the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA) offered US $ 4.7million (about7.2bn/-). The OPEC Fund contributed US $ 4.7million (about 7.42bn/-) through its Open Fund for International Development (OFID).

The project is being implemented by the Spencon Company Services Limited and is expected to produce over 17million litres of water per day.

Under the project, water would be collected from two independent boreholes -- at Mwankoko (292,000 litres per hour) and at Irao (425,000 litres per hour).

In its first phase the scheme will supply water to 3,500 people while in the second phase it will cover 1,000 people and greatly reduce the water crisis affecting residents of the region.

SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN