Government bans transportation of foodstuff across the country

The government has reiterated its commitment to continue preventing farmers and traders from transporting food crops outside the country for sale at this time when there is a great deficit of foodstuff in national granaries, the Minister has said. The Minister for Foreign Affairs and East Africa and International Cooperation Dr. Augustine Mahiga said in Parliament last week in Dodoma when responding to a supplementary question which was raised by Temeke legislator Abdallah Mtolea (CUF).  The legislator wanted to know how does t he ministry’s slogan of “Seeking trade opportunities in East Africa region” mean to farmers in the country and yet the government has prevented them from looking for the trade opportunities to transport their commodities in neighboring countries for sale. Under the slogan, Tanzania has allowed its local traders including farmers to transport their farm commodities across the border in search of its market, but unfortunately the government has imposed an indefinite ban of these commodities from being transported across the border. 

Dr. Augustine Mahiga

 Responding to this question, the foreign affairs minister clarified clearly that, the government had imposed the ban following the incurring shortages of food stuff facing many regions in the country and wanted farmers to sell their commodities to National Food Reserve Agency (NFRA). He also noted that, the government is currently in plans of construction more national granaries on which to preserve foodstuff grown by farmers in various places in the country. Earlier, the Malindi legislator Ally Saleha Ally (CUF) raised a question and wanted to know from the minister how many laws have been compiled by the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) and how Tanzania has benefited from these. Responding to this question Minister Dr. Mahiga noted that, there are about 78 laws which have been compiled with some have been amended now and then pending on the changes of the economic situation in the region. Out of these 20 of which are waiting for the heads of State to sign. He mentioned three laws as Customs law of 2004, Laws that combines businesses among member states as well as laws on the removal of barriers on main roads within the regional bloc.