The CCM Government’s announcement that the farmers of Mbarali will lose their holdings because they have not observed the correct environmental regulations is a very dangerous precedent. It is understood that these Tanzanian citizen farmers have operated these farms for over ten years. It is also regrettable that their operations have caused a lot of damage and even partly contributed to the current drying up of dams like those of Mtera and Kidatu, wreaking havoc to the nation’s electricity supply.

Nevertheless, to evict a whole community creates a precedent that could be repeated in many areas of this vast country of ours where the villagers have not been observing the rules of proper and sustainable land use. Even Hon. Minister Mungai himself and many other Members of Parliament have constituents who have caused land erosion and degradation in their areas. Should they also be evicted? Particularly when it is understood that this Mbarali land is now to be allocated to a few individuals (my be even foreigners) who have the means to exploit the land and get richer, it is questionable why Government has not given material and professional advice to these Tanzanian farmer citizens to farm properly in order to avoid the necessity to evict them. Has the Government not also failed?

I humbly, but seriously suggest that it is the responsibility of a fair and democratic government to ensure that its citizen population is trained and assisted to make the best use of the land which God ordained that it should belong to them. Governments which resort to inviting foreigners to come into their countries to rescue them in using their land properly are shirking their due responsibilities and duties, are unpatriotic and should be vetoed out by their electorates. If there are any political parties in opposition in Tanzania worth the name, they should organize peaceful demonstrations in support of the Mbarali farmers to urge President Jakaya Kikwete not to revoke their right to continue exploiting this land. In Parliament, they should urge the Ministry of Agriculture to earmark and post competent officers to be stationed permanently in Mbarali to assist and advise the farmers there how to properly use the water and land which God Almighty ordained that they belong to the area.