The U.S. Geological Survey estimates that East Africa's coastal region holds up to 441 trillion cubic feet of natural gas.
Does anything really change in Bongoland ? Will anything change before we can remove all the entire political class from messing up with lives and pretending to be concerned about our welfare? I will advice opposition to demand less to get indipendent commission to investigate Mtwara human right violation.
A little research my this blogger has revealed that as widely believed by most Mtwara people, the recent volence was man-made and created because some people were out to make a quick buck.
This saga is so amazing and stranger than fiction so much so that the first time I heard it I refused to believe it. And yet even as I cross-checked the info, things started happening to confirm some of the things that I had been told. Wow!!! What a crazy Bongo republic !!!! Mtwara residents want the government to use the fuel to stimulate their local economy first, and were angered by the government's decision to proceed with construction despite local resistance.
In January this year 7 people were killed during riots. The riots mark an escalation of local tensions as the East African nation attempts to start exploiting recently discovered offshore natural-gas reserves.
The only crime people of Mtwara is voicing the opinion about the transfer of gas from Mtwara to Dar Es Salaam, the 500Km pipe line which some one already pocketed fedha chafu from 1.2 Billion contract. But Mtwara residents want the gas processing plants to be built in Mtwara now the military and Police have been deployed and Mtwara is a war zone school and busness have shut down in order to hunt those who are mobilize people to protest
What Lesson we can Learn to deploy military is not a solution to calm the situation if Military is a solution Samuel DOE and Charles Taylor of Liberia will be still the President , now the Military and Police is terorising the whole Mtwara region and shoot preganant inocent woman to death.
It was in January in 2001 after getting info from my family about the Killing of the innocent people in this beloved Pemba Island only treason they commit was to protest about the right of assembly, and the right of the people to get democratically elected Leaders which in 2000 Zanzibar had another shamble elections and the democracy was on cross road.That time in Washington I decide to send message to our Ambassador Nyanganyi about the situation in Zanzibar the answer was I have contact with the President there was no one was killed in Pemba but the truth later came out .
For the First time Tanzania had Wakimbizi( Refugees ) in Kenya after the innocent shooting and killing in this Island.and Ben Mkapa deceide to have Hashim Mbita to investigate the Use of the force by innocent people in Pemba .Now we have Mtwara many inocent people have left the house after the brutality of Tanzania Police , shooting Innocent people and burn the houses many people are refugees after the Military and Police deployment .
Fresh details emerging from Mtwara Region show that Police might have triggered the deadly skirmishes that rocked the gas-rich region early this week.
According to our random survey, the law enforcers themselves are said to have provoked the angry residents who had gathered in various places to watch a live televised budget speech for the Ministry of Energy and Minerals.
According to a random survey conducted in Mtwara region during interviews with some victims of the deadly skirmishes, it seemed the Police partly bear the blame on how they handled the fragile situation in the region.
But speaking to the Minister for Home Affairs Emanuel Nchimbi defended the police, saying they had acted bravely and timely to thwart the bloody riots that erupted in the region.
Eye-witnesses claimed that Police were the first to use force in their bid to disperse residents who had gathered in public places to watch the live televised budget speech for the Ministry of Energy and Minerals on Wednesday.
It is claimed that shortly after Energy and Minerals Minister Professor Sospeter Muhongo started reading his budget speech, the live broadcast was suspended in Mtwara Region, causing tension, panic and anger among the residents who were eager to hear the fate of their newfound gas riches.
although some of those interviewed insisted that the live broadcast by the state funded TBC I was suspended shortly after the minister started reading his speech.
The residents called for an independent probe on what really triggered the deadly chaos, insisting that the reaction by some rioters was caused by Police brutality.
According to these residents, if special investigation was conducted to find out what exactly happened on the material day, police would also be found to be among the culprits in the chaos.
According to the accounts from the residents, some anti-riot police committed acts that violated human rights, including setting houses ablaze, shooting at children playing outside their houses and beating some youth at their homes indiscriminately .
They alleged that police also incited violence through random use of tear-gas at groups of people who were monitoring the budget speech of the Ministry of Energy and Minerals. Some police officers went on to harass people instead of protecting them.
Seventy-five-year-old Salimu Abdalla, a resident of Mtawiko Magomeni, said after the violence erupted some police destroyed property belonging to locals, a move that angered youths who in turn destroyed houses of police officers in the area.
A quick survey conducted revealed that the police houses that came under attack belonged to Detective Sargent E1784 Fatih Shabihi, Corporal E8935 Fillemoni Yatitu and another house belonging to another police officer quickly identified as Fatuma Mohamedi, who is also the wife to a TBC1 Reporter based in Mtwara, Kasim Mikongolo.
Another resident, Shakira Kaidha, said while police on rampage set ablaze her house for no apparent reason. She said a few minutes before setting the house on fire police asked her for a match box, but she refused to give it to them.
According to Shakira, her residential house also harbours what could be described as a bunker where she had kept TBC1 reporter Kassim Mikongolo’s wife’s property. Mikongolo’s wife had asked Shakira to keep some of her valuables, including documents on fears that some irate residents could set her house ablaze.
Mikindani resident Mussa Mohamed expressed disappointment at police brutality, saying they had resorted to excessive force in containing the unfolding violence.
Mohammed claimed that policemen attacked innocent civilians who were at home, beating and forcing them to leave their houses, threatening to kill them if they disobeyed the order.
Wananchi had to seek refuge at nearby bushes, public buildings including hospitals and schools, said Magengeni Councilor Omari Abilai (CCM).
Singino locality resident Fatuma Mfaume had a different story to recount, saying she was frying some fish at her home when a group of police invaded her before torturing her, including frog- jumping her.
As they tortured her, she could overhear them arguing among themselves on whether or not to shoot her. She said one policewoman vowed to shoot her on grounds that she was following orders from ‘ above.’ However, they later set her free.
But, Home Affairs Minister Emmanuel Nchimbi defended the police, saying the people who committed the atrocities such as burning houses of local people were thugs.
Residents here said there was no external factor that forced them to demand for a fair share from gas proceeds, adding that their decision was purely home-grown.
A survey conducted yesterday revealed that various houses were set on fire, rendering hundreds of people homeless.
Mtwara municipality remained a ghost town as shops, petrol stations, hotels and other public buildings remained closed yesterday, paralyzing life in general for the third day running.
Public building destroyed included the Chikongola Ward and CCM offices, a legislator’s Office and Mikindani Primary Court.
A statement released by Mtwara Regional Security Committee Chairman, Joseph Simbakalia, who doubles as the Regional Commissioner, said the police force would to establish the identity of the police officers involved in the chaos and how they handled the situation .
Rioting youths started blocking roads and others destroying public structures, Abdallah Magomba, a resident of Magomeni Tulivu said.
Speaking at a press conference, Simbakalia said the government was working on various allegations of police who invaded and torched houses.
By the end of yesterday, over 90 suspects had been arrested, according to the regional commissioner.
What can we Learn from Mtwara geopolitical saga!, will Mtwara be Ogoni land like Nigeria ?
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