The Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) District Secretary for Simanjiro in Manyara Region, Wambura Igembya, has directed that four acres of land belonging to a 105-year-old resident of Loiborsiret village be returned to her following allegations that the land had been taken by village leaders.
The directive was issued during a visit by the CCM district secretariat to Loiborsiret village as part of a tour aimed at thanking residents for voting for the ruling party in the 2025 General Election, listening to citizens’ grievances and assessing the party’s grassroots structures.
The delegation included District Publicity Secretary Mosses Makeseni, Parents’ Wing Secretary Sasi Mirumbe and UWT Secretary Tichomo Sangija.
Addressing villagers during a public meeting, Igembya said available evidence shows that the land rightfully belongs to the elderly woman, Maria Nongululu, and ordered village authorities to ensure it is restored to her.
“I am issuing this directive as the party’s district secretary. The evidence of ownership is clear, and the woman must be given back her land. Leaders must focus on serving citizens rather than oppressing them. We were elected to serve the people,” he said.
He noted that the CCM district leadership decided to visit the village after receiving complaints from residents regarding the conduct of the village government.
Earlier, Nongululu told the meeting that the land had belonged to her for more than two decades and accused the village chairman, Kimai Saruni, of attempting to take it and allocate it to another person despite her having ownership documents.
“This farm has been mine for over 20 years. Even the former village chairman, Raphael Matinda, knows that it belongs to me. But the current chairman wants to take it away,” she said.
However, Saruni rejected the accusations, saying he had no intention of dispossessing the elderly woman of her land.
He also denied claims by residents that he has been selling village grazing land approved under the village land use plan.
Loiborsiret Ward Councillor Ezekiel Lesenga (Mardadi) said residents have repeatedly complained about land disputes, particularly concerning areas designated for livestock grazing, and urged the party to intervene.
“The party needs to step in to resolve this issue because villagers had already approved a land use plan, yet people are now claiming their land is being taken,” he said.
Another resident, Karakai Barisha, alleged that the village chairman and a small group of individuals have been selling land reserved for livestock grazing.
He said villagers have been raising concerns for some time over what they describe as the unlawful sale of village land using meeting minutes from 2022.
Barisha added that residents had earlier approved a village land use plan in 2019 through a general assembly, but some of the grazing areas are now reportedly being sold.
