By Lake Zone Watch Writer
Prime Minister, Kassim Majaliwa yesterday ordered the immediate suspension of two senior officials of Mwanza City and the removal and posting of the Regional Assistant Land Commissioner to his parent ministry for disciplinary action.
He directed the Mwanza Regional Administrative Secretary, Elikana Balandya to suspend the Mwanza City Head of Urban Planning Robert Phares, the Designated Land Officer and Head of the Land Unit, Halima Iddi Nasoro, and the posting of the Regional Assistant Land Commissioner Elia Kamihanda to the headquarters of the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Human Settlements Development where disciplinary measures would be taken against him.
The Prime Minister gave the directive at a meeting he organised at his Mlimwa Office in Dodoma which was attended by leaders of six cities – Dar es Salaam, Mwanza, Arusha, Mbeya, Tanga and Dodoma – to discuss the raging land conflicts in those places.
Majaliwa also instructed the police in collaboration with the Prevention of Corruption and Combating Bureau (PCCB) to arrest 11 former employees of Dodoma City to answer charges of embezzlement of funds, grabbing people’s land and allocating areas earmarked as open spaces.
The 11 workers include former City Director Josephat Mafuru, Scorpion Mafuru, Lennis Ngole, Allen Mwakanjuki, Aisha Masanja and Agusta Primo. Others are Azory William Byakanwa, Frezia Kazimoto, Premin Nzenga, Stella Komba and Thabiti Mbiyagi.
“These are few among the many engaged in land conflicts. They should be sought wherever they are to answer accusations against them,” the premier directed.
The ex-Dodoma City Director is also alleged to have embezzled three billion shilling (3bn/-) from the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Human Settlements Development allocated for the survey of new areas in the country’s administrative capital.
Other Dodoma City workers are accused of engaging in such acts as double allocation, using project funds contrary to laid down procedures, using private companies for land surveys against normal procedures, using fake land title deeds and selling open spaces for private purposes.
The Prime Minister directed Dodoma City authorities to implement recommendations put forward by a special task force of evaluating fake title deeds and compensating some residents whose land was taken without being paid anything.
Meanwhile, Majaliwa sanctioned the continuation of the construction of a high-rise building in Mwanza at No. 194 & 195 plot U, Rwagasore Street, which was stopped by Regional Commissioner Amos Makalla. He also ordered the owners of the plot to be given their title deeds.