Dar es Salaam, Tanzania - Rising competition for land resources and the way land has been either acquired or allocated to some big guns in recent years attracted the attention of newspapers in Tanzania this week, with the state-owned Daily News, calling for revision of the country’s land policies. The clamour started in parliament as members of the House threatened to disapprove budget estimates of the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Human Settlements Development charging that the ministry’s officials used dirty tactics in land allocation. The anger of some legislators boiled over as they named ex-presidents Ali Hassan Mwinyi and Benjamin Mkapa as well as former Prime ministers John Malacela and Frederick Sumaye among 'land-grabbers'.

Reporting that opposition Lands shadow minister Halima Mdee “questioned massive allocation of land to retired government leaders”, Daily News also gave an account of how the government intended to set up a land bank in order to facilitate protection of this resource and make it easily available for investment.

Listing the shortcomings of the ministry as cited by legislators, including double allocation, ineffective urban planning and overall land management and land grabbing by the powerful and wealthy individuals, Daily News affirmed: “In a way we tend to agree with these concerns.”

According to the paper, there has been growing tension in several parts of Tanzania between small and big land developers, small-scale farmers and large foreign investors.

“It is an open fact that developers have been ahead of planners and land surveyors,” the state-owned daily observed, stating that the current situation in the country calls for revision of land policies.

Meanwhile, a private Kiswahili language daily, Mwananchi, urged the government to take disciplinary action against land officers who allocated to individual developers open spaces, which were intended for public outdoor recreation including playgrounds for schools.

On top of that, the paper suggested that the president should nullify certificates of tenancy issued to such persons.

Mwananchi also warned that if influential persons continue to grab land which they do not put to use, while commoners fail to get plots for subsistence farming and grazing livestock, that does not indicate a peaceful future for the country.

Commenting on the same issue, The Citizen said land and how it was used was a very sensitive public issue because conflicts over land ownership had resulted not only in loss of life but also in destruction of property.

The newspaper said: “Unresolved disputes, genuine or not, also hinder the country’s drive to attract local and foreign investors with the potential to turn the millions of hectares of land lying fallow into productive units. This would profit local communities and the nation.

“The emotions that characterise discussions around how Tanzania can attain a balance in the use of this crucial resource and unlock its potential are a pointer to the crisis.”

According to the paper, a good example of a possible crisis was the debate in parliament over the budget for the lands, housing and human settlements ministry, during which the majority of MPs threatened to block the budget.

The private daily said: “Some claim their constituents have been locked out to make way for hotshots who claim they are the rightful owners. Others are opposed to some investors. Any foreigner reading reports on our land conflicts would be excused if they believed a civil war was imminent.

“All these conflicts and sweeping statements are uncalled for. This country has laws that govern how this useful resource should be put to use. It is needless, therefore, to give the impression of a sector in turmoil and lacking in direction.

“What we are hearing can be put down to lack of information and dialogue with various stakeholders. Because the issue is so contentious, authorities charged with land matters from, grassroots to national policy levels, must ensure all transactions are transparent if they are to avoid any suspicions.”

The Citizen also could not remain silent about land seizures.  “It is a national shame for Tanzania’s leaders, past and present, to be named among people said to have grabbed land during their time in office,” the paper said.

It urged the authorities to explain land allocation processes in order to safeguard Tanzania’s image and “avoid the risk of driving away investors who want to help us achieve a green revolution.”

Besides the issue of land, Tanzanian newspapers this week were also saturated with the issue of illegal exports of wild animals and birds from the country.

Members of Parliament came down hard on the government demanding explanation about the fate of live animals, including giraffes and birds, which were smuggled out of the country from Kilimanjaro International Airport on a Qatar military cargo plane on 24 November 2010.

According to the chairman of the parliamentary committee on lands, natural resources and environment, James Lembeli, the animals were smuggled out courtesy of a syndicate that involved officials in the Wildlife Division and foreigners, reported The Citizen.

“What my committee has noted is that officials who were involved in this scandalous act are being protected by powers-that-be,” the daily quoted Lembeli as telling the House.

But Daily News reported on Thursday that six traders had been arrested in connection with the illegal exportation of wildlife and their case was pending in a court of law.

After the legislators turned up the heat on the government over the issue, the following day Prime Minister Mizengo Pinda announced suspension of exports of live wild animals and birds from Tanzania for 18 months.

According to Daily News, the government would by then come up with a system to check cheating by unscrupulous traders in the business, stipulate the type of exportable animals, and set rates to be paid by exporters. Presently, there are 180 licensed traders of wildlife in Tanzania.

In a related development, The Citizen reported that the government had suspended its director of wildlife, Obeid Mbangwa, to pave the way for investigation into the illegal export of 116 wild animals and 16 birds.

According to the same paper, two other senior wildlife officials and Mbangwa had been sent on paid leave pending completion of the investigation.

Pana 20/08/2011