PETI SIYAME in Sumbawanga, 9th April 2009 @ 00:30, Total Comments: 2, Hits: 671
A traditional militia man ‘sungusungu’ was severely wounded and several hectares of crops destroyed, during clashes between pastoralists and farmers that erupted at Majimoto village, Mpimbwe division in Mpanda district, Rukwa region on Sunday afternoon. This is the second time this year for the two communities to clash over grazing land, leaving property including food crops destroyed.
Rukwa Regional Police Commander, Isuto Mantage, told reporters yesterday that six young men from the same family of pastoralists armed with traditional weapons, allowed about 2,000 cows owned by their father - Kilomela Shigela (87)- to feed and trample on several hectares of food and cash crops belonging to the Majimoto farmers. According to RPC, the animals had destroyed an hectare of legumes and groundnuts belonging to Hija Samuel (30), while other sources from the scene of clashes said that several hectares of food and cash crops were destroyed.
Narrating the incident, Mr Mantage said that when the aggrieved farmers confronted they youths over their intentional and provocative behaviour, the six young men turned violent threatening to shoot them. The farmers alerted the village 'sungusungu' who rushed to the scene of clashes immediately and it was at that juncture that one of the six young men aimed his weapon at one of the militia men.
“The bullet ripped the stomach of the 'sungusungu' whose name was later identified as Yohana James (27) and was rushed to Mpanda district hospital where he was admitted, said the RPC. According to Mr Mantage, when the police arrived at the scene few hours after clashes which lasted for two hours, the six young men had already fled the area.
However, when police searched Shigela’s compound made of several houses accommodating his 72 children and seven wife, a short gun that was used to hit Johana during the clashes was found hidden in one of the houses. Shigela was interrogated and admitted to have owned it legally. RPC said that investigations were going on and that Shigela was being interrogated at Mpanda Police Station, while police had launched manhunt for the six suspects.
Total Comments on the above stories (2)
Comment
This to me seems as a time bomb. Pastoralists and farmers have been always to sort out issues under contetion without active and proper government involvement. Pastoralists feel like left orphans - roaming without national poilcy to promote pastoralism and pastoralists livelihoods. We need livestock for the countries economic development as well supplying the the much needed protein to varioius education and service institutions as well as the general public.
One wonders what would have happened if there was no livestock in Tanzania. Is having livestocks a blessing or a disguise in our Country? The Kenyans are commended for meat supply, but the actuality is that all livestock for that meat come from Tanzania and is illegally smuggled across our borders. Can't we have good policies to help our pastoralists as their way of life, means of livelihood and source of economic power for the country. What is needed is just good strategies - all these conflicts will be ended, eviction is not the answer at all.
Comment
This to me seems as a time bomb. Pastoralists and farmers have been always to sort out issues under contetion without active and proper government involvement. Pastoralists feel like left orphans - roaming without national poilcy to promote pastoralism and pastoralists livelihoods. We need livestock for the countries economic development as well supplying the the much needed protein to varioius education and service institutions as well as the general public.
One wonders what would have happened if there was no livestock in Tanzania. Is having livestocks a blessing or a disguise in our Country? The Kenyans are commended for meat supply, but the actuality is that all livestock for that meat come from Tanzania and is illegally smuggled across our borders. Can't we have good policies to help our pastoralists as their way of life, means of livelihood and source of economic power for the country. What is needed is just good strategies - all these conflicts will be ended, eviction is not the answer at all.
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