By Lilian Kasenene,
Morogoro---The
Government of Tanzania has announced a special operation in Kilosa District,
Morogoro, aimed at resolving ongoing land disputes and farmer-herder conflicts.
The
initiative, led by Minister for Constitution and Legal Affairs, Dr. Damas
Ndumbaro (pictured), will bring together experts from various sectors and
include a mobile court to address unresolved cases.
Speaking
during the launch of the Mama Samia Legal Aid campaign in Kilosa, Dr.
Ndumbaro pledged to personally oversee the operation, which will follow the
ten-day legal aid drive in the region.
“This operation is designed to tackle the
rising number of conflicts in Kilosa, a district now infamous for land disputes
and clashes between farmers and herders,” he stated.
Dr.
Ndumbaro emphasized the importance of preparation by local officials, including
the District Commissioner’s Office and the Office of the Public Prosecutor.
"Complainants, respondents, and witnesses must be ready for this
on-the-spot resolution initiative. Those dissatisfied with immediate rulings
will have access to the mobile court,” he noted.
The
operation comes after requests from key leaders, including Kilosa MP and
Minister of Information, Arts, Culture, and Sports, Prof. Palamagamba Kabudi,
as well as Morogoro Regional Commissioner Adam Malima. These leaders urged the
extension of the campaign to resolve persistent disputes that threaten local
peace and development.
Dr.
Ndumbaro highlighted President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s directive to ensure legal
aid reaches vulnerable populations.
“This
campaign focuses on empowering the disadvantaged with knowledge of their rights
and responsibilities. Ignorance of the law is a major contributor to disputes
that disrupt peace and hinder progress,” he said.
Prof.
Kabudi noted that Kilosa has been designated a special zone for addressing
farmer-herder conflicts by the Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries.
He
added that other ministries, including Agriculture and Land, are set to
intervene. “Resolving these conflicts is a priority, given their impact on
social harmony and economic stability,” he remarked.
Regional
Commissioner Malima underscored the urgency of addressing complaints from
Kilosa, which has the highest number of grievances in the region, followed by
Kilombero.
“Many
conflicts arise because people lack knowledge of legal procedures and fail to
understand which authorities to approach,” he said.
Kilosa
District Commissioner Shaka Hamdu Shaka revealed that despite significant
government investments in health, education, and economic development, land and
farmer-herder disputes remain rampant.
He attributed this to residents’ inability to
afford legal representation, with over 85% of cases in the legal aid campaign
expected to involve land disputes.
Shaka
also called for an extension of the campaign to cover more villages and wards,
given the district’s vast size.
“Kilosa
spans over 12,000 square kilometers. Reaching rural communities with these
services is crucial,” he emphasized. He further urged the Ministry of
Constitution and Legal Affairs to deploy more prosecutors to handle Kilosa's
backlog of nearly 260 pending cases.
The
legal aid campaign and subsequent operation aim to restore peace and stability
in Kilosa by addressing the root causes of disputes, empowering residents with
legal knowledge, and ensuring swift conflict resolution.