Tanzania boasts of vast resources

nngu007 · 2011-08-25T02:35:43+00:00

Prime Minister, Mr Mizengo Pinda Tanzania has more resources compared to other member states in the East African Community (EAC), which ought to be fully utilised to improve living conditions of people in the country, the Prime Minister Mizengo Pinda has said. The resources include vast arable land, tourist attractions, minerals, a long coastline as well as manpower. Tanzania is also strategically located as gateway to eight landlocked countries. We are the giant in the region and with all these resources; some people are looking at us with envy, the premier said during a seminar organised by the Ministry of East African Co-operation in Dodoma on Sunday. It was aimed at sensitising lawmakers on various issues on the integration of regional bloc. The EAC is made up of Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi. Some other countries in the region including the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Sudan and newly established South Sudan have plans to join the bloc. Veteran politician who is also a Member of the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA), Ms Kate Kamba, said earlier that Tanzania is an important factor in the EAC. We should just build confidence among our people otherwise we are the giant in the bloc. They are all eyeing our resources, she said. In their contributions, several MPs took issues on acquisition of big chunks of land in the country, particularly by Kenyans and called for measures to stop the trend. It is high time we stopped giving out land to foreigners. There are also some Tanzanians who are used by Kenyans to acquire land on their behalf, charged Mustafa Akunaay (Mbulu Chadema). The MP alleged further that the main agenda for Kenyan in the EAC was to exploit tourist attractions and acquire land in Tanzania. Wawi MP, Mr Hamad Rashid (CUF) had earlier expressed concerns that land law in Tanzania was different from other EAC member countries. Ours is a lease system against free hold system in other EAC countries. This means that they can acquire land in Tanzania on lease for 33, 66 or 99 years but we cannot acquire land in their countries, the MP said. MP Murtaza Magungu (Kilwa South-CCM) accused Kenyans of mistreating Tanzanians, saying he was a victim. I have my goods at the port of Mombasa and at the Kenyan borders which have been stranded there for months for unclear reasons, MP Magungu lamented. The Deputy Minister for Land, Housing and Human Settlements Development, Mr Goodluck Ole Medeye, without mentioning names, accused some neighbouring countries of advertising Tanzanias tourist attractions as their own. These people have also gone further to market the rare gemstone that is only mined in Tanzania, tanzanite as theirs, the deputy minister said. Kigoma Urban MP, Mr Peter Serukamba (CCM) said he was not interested in political federation but rather economic integration. With the land we have, we can grow crops and feed all other member states in the EAC, he said. The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of East African Co-operation, Dr Stergomena Tax, stressed during her presentation that regional blocs should enable members to benefit without being mistreated or discriminated. We will not allow to be dragged, each country has an opportunity to give its views regarding the bloc, she said. Delivering a speech at the occasion, East African Co-operation Minister, Mr Samuel Sitta, said the EAC has already received an application for membership from South Sudan. By ALVAR MWAKYUSA, Tanzania Daily News

Thread starter nngu007
Start date Aug 25, 2011

nngu007

JamiiForums uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register.
By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our use of cookies.

Accept Learn more…

Back

Top Bottom

Forums

New posts

Tanzania boasts of vast resources

nngu007

JF-Expert Member

Our Community

Regional Communities