GESI - MTWARA: Leaders troop to Mtwara as 44 suspects arrested

By The Citizen Reporters Mtwara/Dar.

Monday, 28 January 2013

Prime Minister Mizengo Pinda. Top government leaders started trooping Mtwara yesterday in a bid to resolve the crisis linked to protests over a pipeline for pumping gas to Dar es Salaam. The protests have now degenerated into violent clashes culminating to deaths of at least seven people as well as burning of houses of senior politicians hailing from the region. As leaders headed for the troubles Mtwara, a police manhunt in the region had by yesterday led to arrest of 44 people who are being held for questioning in connection to violence that happened on Saturday in Masasi. Prime Minister Mizengo Pinda arrived there in the afternoon and went straight into indoor meetings with senior government and CCM leaders.  Home Affairs Minister John Nchimbi was also expected to arrive just before the Prime Minister. The Police Force Training and Operation Commissioner Mr Paul Chagonja was there since Friday to push for peace and security restoration. Inspector General of Police Saidi Mwema too was expected to arrive in the region in the evening.  “We are working hard to restore normalcy, that’s why I’m here,” Mr Chagonja told reporters at the weekend, adding that 44 suspects under arrest would be arraigned soon. The people of Mtwara have been protesting over the government’s decision to construct a pipeline to pump natural gas to Dar es Salaam, arguing that the power from gas should be produced in Mtwara and distributed countrywide. The 532km pipeline, to cost $1.225 billion upon completion would transport gas to Dar es Salaam for producing 2,780 megawatts of electricity. It is a joint project between a Chinese company and the Tanzania Petroleum Development Corporation (TPDC). It is expected to be completed by 2015. On December 27 last year, thousands of Mtwara residents marched for about 10km protesting against Mtwara-Dar pipeline plan. Other demonstrations followed and at the one over the weekend degenerated into violence. Kigoma North MP Zitto Kabwe yesterday advised leaders heading to Mtwara to do more listening than talking and issuing directives. Speaking at a news conference in Dar es Salaam, Mr Kabwe said leaders must tell Mtwara people exactly how they would benefit from the gas mining in the region if they want to end the ongoing chaos. Meanwhile, there is a huge number of police officers in the now deserted Mtwara town, while buses headed there are stopped about 20km before reaching it and passengers (coming or leaving the town) have to be ferried in mini-buses under law enforcers escort. At the same time, the Pentecostal Church of Tanzania (PCT) bishops on Saturday issued a statement urging the government to put on hold the Mtwara-Dar gas plan. The bishops’ chairperson Bishop Charles Chilumba said the government should be keen on what the people want as opposed to what the State wants. “The government should construct the fertiliser, plastic and cement factories now, instead of bringing politics on matters that touches on wananchi’s interests,” he said. For his part, Mr Kabwe further asked the government to go public on the details of the contract it entered with China with regard to the pipeline project, saying its costs was suspect. He accused the government of misleading people on the exact demands by Mtwara residents, saying what they are demanding is to be assured they would benefit from the project. They are not against the gas being pumped to Dar es Salaam, he argued. Reported by Mwanja Ibadi (Masasi), Alex Bitekeye, Bernard Lugongo and Aloyce Mpandana (Dar). http://www.thecitizen.co.tz/component/content/article/37-tanzania-top-news-story/28399-leaders-troop-to-mtwara-as-44-suspects-arrested.html