Kinana blasts the government over land crisis

The CCM party’s Secretary General Abdulrahman Kinana has blasted the government for its failure to settle down the long standing land crisis between small scale miners of the Nyarugusu village in Geita district and National State Mining Company (STAMICO) who issued the land to an American mining firm known as ‘Tanzam’. Kinana who currently is in a regional tour of Geita region made a concern yesterday while addressing a public rally in Geita district when people of Busanda constituency asked him to clarify party’s standing point about their issue which President Jakaya Kikwete had promised to give them but unfortunately there had been a slack implementation on the matter. Kinana asked Busanda people time of approximately one month under which he is going to sort out their queries with the Minister for Energy and Minerals that would ensure the mining site which currently is managed by the STAMICO in collaboration with the American firm (Tanzam) for over 30 years is returned back to local people. “First let me apologise on behalf of the government and my party’s jurisdiction that we have made a great mistake ever since the President visited the area and made a promise that you could b e provided with this land and unfortunately nothing has been implemented so far”, he  said. However, he added that it is impossible for anyone to contradict with what the President has ordered to be done, and in view of this he has issued an ultimatum of one month to ensure that he sorts out the problem once and for all. He said he is quite embarrassed by constant promises by some national leaders who never fulfils their promises whenever they visit such areas and fails to come out with a solution. He elaborated that, what has been done to them is not part of the implementations of party’s manifesto of the ruling CCM party which says that, people of the United Republic would have acquired an area set for their economic development. He further noted that the American firm which had entered into contract with the government for mining activities, has never done anything for the last 10 years since it signed a joint contract with STAMICO, saying that this is contrary to the legal procedures. “Both parties have legal rights but it is amazing to see that the long signed contract should stay without implementation ”, he queried and insisted that the government should reclaim back the piece of land and redistribute it to0m the needy local people as it is not fair. He said this is the worst form of rudeness that compels the people of Busanda to have hatred against their government whose few untrustworthy executives do not have interest with the lives of the people at Nyarugusu village. He said that many government executives are good at heart while some are not corrupt and that is why if people consult them in their offices are not given special attention as deserved by the law. Some are asking questions that educe them to pay bribes for the services rendered. He said such types of leaders have been keeping going the bribes and embracers theft and to the great amazement, the government fails to take legal action against them as there are numerous committees formed to investigate their mischief. He has also affirmed that bit is a responsibility of the CMM party to ask the top executive why haven’t they be given the land they were promised and instead have been receiving  endless promises which are never implemented, and according to him what he knows is that, a Tanzanian should be given priority and followed by an investor. He assured the people that it is his government which messes up and once it has failed to work for the poor and unprivileged groups, he as a Secretary general has the right to stand to push on where people have got stacked. He has also asked fellow CMM members to emulate the father of the nation Mwalimu Julius Nyerere who built a firm foundation of the CMM party who refused to take a bribe and never engaged in theft and grand corruption. Alongside with this, Kinana insisted that it is high time to repeal all the existing laws which are here to defend offenders and protect their destiny, and badly once such laws are enacted ordinary people are not involved. In view of this, he has pledged to consult all CMM legislators to scrutinize such laws. Kinana is currently going on with a tour visit of Geita region after he finished a visit in Kagera and Mwanza regions respectively.