A Senior University Lecturer has
blamed the government for its failure to make its plans open to the local
government authorities of the southern regions of Mtwara and Lindi over gas
exploration project deal, a factor which resulted into misunderstanding between
the government and the people. Dr. Haji Semboja the Lecturer at Economics
department at the University of Dar es Salaam made his observations recently in
Dar es Salaam when presenting a paper at a policy dialogue seminar of the
pre-budget discussion forum which was organized by an Economic and Social Research
Foundation (ESRF). The paper titled ‘Implication
of the 2013/2014 budget on the gas extraction in Tanzania’ describes the
current status of the petroleum and gas exploration activities going on in
southern region of Mtwara and way forward on what should be done. It also highlights
major constraints, risks and challenges in the petroleum exploration and
development including ignorance of local authorities and localities in the gas
field areas. He made it clear that, the local government authorities and
communities were not well informed about the government’s plans or consulted
nor involved in one way or another in the whole process of a multi billion
worth of a gas and petroleum exploration deal and other related development
activities. However, he noted that, in view of this, due to these irregularities
people rioted in protest to get to know their future rights and use of this
precious underground natural wealth. “It is important to note that lack of
direct indigenous participation limit their roles, interests and their rights
over resource” he said Describing the
constraints, risks and challenges, Dr. Semboja noted that, there are increasing
numbers of complex primary and secondary constraints risks affecting the performance
in oil and petroleum exploration in Tanzania. The petroleum exploration results
are sensitive to various risks, the most significant ones he mentioned is being
the hydrocarbon price expressed in dollars and the Euro-dollar exchange rates
which keeps on rising. The main risks he noted includes social political risks
related with four aspects which are behavior of the governments, legal
disputes, resources related to the reconstruction of reserves. Others are
market competition, industry, health, social and public security related risks
as these might deter future long term and large scale. The forum had the
opportunity also to discuss the main key aspects of Kilimo Kwanza program which
the government has adopted in order to promote local farmers in the country. In
this development concept, ESRF has seen the need for transforming the sector
and what to expect for the 2013/14 budget being the second largest contributor
to National Gross Domestic Product (GDP) after the service sector. Contributing
on the idea, some stakeholders have said that, the program seems to be lagging behind
due to a number of reasons among them is extreme poverty among the majority of
Tanzanians living in both rural and urban centers. The Executive Secretary of the
Agricultural Non State Actors Forum (ANSAF) Audax Rukonge suggested in his
paper presentation that, the national budget slated to agricultural sector in
the country should target rural infrastructure such as truck roads in areas of
agricultural production activities. He also pleaded for more money for land
survey, land demarcation saying that these would minimize the existing
conflicts among farmers and pastoralists. However, he noted that, if the road
infrastructure is well looked at and placed in good order, it would enable the
farmers transport their goods smoothly to the market and the problem of
inflation would come to an end or reduced to a certain extent.
He also mentioned other things
like investments in rural energy and irrigation facilities including market infrastructure
is another far economic driven aspect that would ensure an economic transformation
in the country. ANSAF is a
registered network of members from Private sector, Civil Society Organizations
including international and local NGOs, farmers associations, Researchers and
Individuals in Agriculture sector. The formation of ANSAF pioneered from a
demand driven organizations in Agriculture Sector 2006. The organization aims
to bring together the coordination and collective action of agriculture actors
in the interests of the well-being and economic prosperity of small-holder
farmers. Provide space for learning and sharing experience through constructive
debates and discussions on issues affecting Smallholder farmers in Tanzania. The Director of programs and projects for
Tanzania Exporters Association, Nyalando Mboyi noted that, lack of proper
remunerations is a great impediment to the development of Kilimo Kwanza as
people especially in rural areas have no capability to afford the necessary
agricultural inputs and agro-products. One lady put across her ideas and noted
that, the issue of getting supporting services such as land titles from the
government is a big problem indeed. A lady who identified by one name as Lydia
is on the view of the fact that, the Kilimo Kwanza might have failed due to the
fact that, people especially in the rural areas do not have full access to
their lands, hence this might develop fear among them of being snatched away
and given to foreign investors. She is therefore appealing to the government to
make have an arrangement of considering its people and give priority to the
local indigenous people of the land ownership.
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