Dar es Salaam. Good morning! The Chanzo is here with a rundown of major news stories reported in Tanzania on Wednesday, June 15, 2022.
Government orders border scrutiny and investigation of NGOs in Loliondo
The Minister of Home Affairs, Mr. Hamad Yussuf Masauni has directed the Immigration Offices to strengthen border security at the Loliondo borders in the wake of tension between Loliondo residents and the government over the ongoing beacon placing exercise.
“I direct all security organs at the Ministry of Home Affairs especially the Immigration to ensure they do everything possible to strengthen security at our borders, this is to prevent any illegal entry of foreign nationals into our country and specifically for anyone trying to get into the country illegally through the Loliondo border,” explained Minister Masauni during his official visit in Loliondo yesterday, June 15, 2022.
The Minister emphasized that the measures are necessary for keeping any instigation activities at bay, “I mention Loliondo specifically because of the issues that have occurred here”, referring to the tension between government and Loliondo residents, “This is in good faith to avoid incitement activities in our country from any foreign nationals, Immigration Office should come up with a comprehensive strategy in controlling entry and exit of foreigners at the Loliondo border.”
The Minister also ordered an investigation of activities undertaken by non-governmental organizations operating in Loliondo.
“Review and investigation should be carried out to all NGOs operating in this area [Loliondo] so as to make sure organizations that have been allowed to operate in Loliondo, operate as per the laws and their constitution.”
“The investigation is to ensure none of the organizations’ activities contributes in any way to the breach of peace in our country and that tough action would be taken in case it’s revealed that there is any organization, civil society, or NGO that operates not in accordance with the law or contribute to the breach of security in our country.”
The new development comes as it has been confirmed by Ngorongoro Member of Parliament that at least 31 Loliondo residents are receiving medical care in nearby Kenya hospital following injuries sustained during tension between Police and residents on June 10, 2022. Some of resident who spoke with media, explained that they had opted Kenya because Tanzania hospitals were demanding PF3 (special police form in case of injuries) before treatment.
Miss-information narratives have emerged on Whatsapp groups and Facebook driven by ‘spam like forwarded message’ that relate the tension as to be incited by a neighboring country.
Amnesty International wants Tanzania to halt ‘brutal security operation’ in Loliondo
Amnesty International urged the government of Tanzania on Wednesday to immediately halt “the violent forced eviction of the Indigenous Maasai community in Loliondo,” and launch an urgent investigation into the security crackdown which has left dozens of people injured, many missing and a police officer killed.
In a statement, the international human rights organisation asked the government to end the security operation immediately and suspend any land acquisition plans until the community has given their free, prior and informed consent in genuine consultations.
Deprose Muchena, Amnesty International’s Director for East and Southern Africa, said in a statement that the “unlawful forced eviction” is “shocking in both its scale and brutality.”
“The Tanzanian authorities should never have allocated this area to a private business without first consulting the Maasai community, whose livelihoods depend on their ancestral land,” Muchena said. “If this land confiscation goes ahead, the Maasai community’s livelihoods and way of life are in jeopardy.”
Muchena said that Tanzanian authorities must halt the ongoing demarcation and security operation in Loliondo, and begin genuine consultations with the community, adding: “They must ensure there are sufficient remedies offered to all affected persons and investigate the appalling violence which has taken place in recent days.”
The government of Tanzania has been facing criticism lately for its attempt to rid the Ngorongoro conservation area of its native people, which include those from the Maasai tribe.
Last week, police reportedly used live bullets to disperse community members in the Ololosokwan village in Loliondo who were protesting the erection of beacons to demarcate 1,500 km2 of village land that authorities want to be turned into a protected area.
The government said that the exercise seeks to evict nobody and it only aims at protecting the area used for wildebeest migration and animal reproduction from human and livestock activities, Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa told lawmakers.
Despite Mr Majaliwa’s insistence that there was no fighting going on in Loliondo, tragic photos and videos have been circulating on social media since Friday, showing the native people reeling from injuries.
Some videos showed Maasai people running from what appeared to be the firing of tear gas canisters. A total of 10 native people from the Ololosokwan village were confirmed to have been injured by Friday evening, according to a list of injured people that circulated online.
On Wednesday, unconfirmed reports circulated online alleging that some Members of Parliament have been summoned to police for interrogation, accused of sedition and convincing people not to obey the government’s orders.
The MPs – Kitila Mkumbo (Ubungo), Emmanuel Oleshangay (Ngorongoro) and Christopher Ole-Sendeka (Simanjiro), all from the ruling Chama cha Mapinduzi (CCM) – have been vocal in their protests against the government’s plan to ‘relocate’ over 70,000 Indigenous Maasai people from Ngorongoro to designated areas in Handeni and Simanjiro.
Reports on Wednesday also suggested that a journalist with the Wasafi Media Potte Mmanga was arrested in Arusha, although police in the region denied holding the journalist when asked by reporters. It was also not immediately established if Mmanga was arrested in connection with the ongoing Ngorongoro saga.
“Tanzanian authorities must conduct prompt, effective, and independent investigations into this horrific campaign of alleged human rights violations, including killing, arbitrary arrest and detention of people during this land acquisition process,” said Amnesty’s Deprose Muchena.
“Perpetrators must be brought to justice in fair trials,” he added.
Tanzania charges two Chinese nationals with economic sabotage
Two Chinese nationals appeared before the Kisutu Resident Magistrate’s Court in Dar es Salaam on Wednesday charged with three counts including economic sabotage.
It was also charged at the Court that the two traders, Zhu Wei and Tao Pan, were found with goods which didn’t pass through the procedure of customs.
Before the Court’s Principal Resident Magistrate Rita Tarimo, it was charged that the duo also avoided tax.
However, Magistrate Tarimo postponed the case to June 29, 2022.
Tanzania’s population to reach 61.3 million, NBS says
A demographer with the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) Hellen Siriwa said Wednesday that Tanzania’s population is estimated to reach 61.3 million people in the 2022 Population and Housing Census.
Ms Siriwa was quoted by The Citizen newspaper as speaking during training for journalists aimed at building capacity and awareness of the preparations for the 2022 National Population and Housing Census.
A two-day training held in the Iringa region on June 14 -15, 2022.
The Population and Housing Census will be conducted on August 23, this year and to facilitate the important exercise, the government has allocated a total of Sh400.9 billion.
During the 2012 census, Tanzania’s population was recorded at 44.9 million while in 2002 it was 34.4 million, meaning the country’s population grew by more than 15 million in 10 years.
Tanzania, Oman ink deal on oil, gas
The Association of Tanzania Oil and Gas Service Providers (ATOGS) and Zanzibar Association of Oil and Gas Services Limited (ZAOGS) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Oman Society for Petroleum Services (OPAL) that will see the three organisations co-operating in a number of areas in the oil and gas sector, Omani press reported.
The development follows a visit made by President Samia Suluhu Hassan to Oman when the MoU was signed during the Tanzania–Oman Business Forum held in Muscat in the presence of Oman’s Minister for Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion, Qais bin Mohammed Al Yousef, Tanzania’s ambassador to Oman Abdallah Abasi Kilima and government representatives from the two countries.
ATOGS was represented by its chairman Abdulsamad Abdulrahim while ZAOGS was represented by Ali Amour, a board member
Speaking shortly after the signing ceremony, ATOGS chairperson said the MoU will enable the three organisations to share local content experience in the oil and gas industry and showcase and share business opportunities available in oil and gas and in strategic projects.
“The MoU signed today will also enable our organisations, to organise joint workshops, forums and seminars as an added value for its members in the fields of technical and training,” he said.
“This MoU has come at the right time. It will also enable us to share knowledge transfer and expertise in the oil and gas industry between us,” he added.
He said following the recent signing of the Host Government Agreement (HGA) between the Tanzanian government and companies that will develop the Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) project in the country, ATOGS and ZAOGS stand a better chance to make maximum use of opportunities coming with the project
“Our colleagues are a step ahead and we will have a lot to learn from them,” he explained. “We want to make sure that our members get maximum benefits from LNG projects signed recently and many others. ATOGS and ZAOGS are looking forward to reaping a lot from the cooperation due to the vast experience that OPAL has in the oil and gas industry.”
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