POLICE in Tarime and Rorya special zone have issued a three-weeks ultimatum to all residents who are illegally possessing firearms and engaging in criminal activities to surrender them to the nearest police station
The zonal authorities here say the ultimatum also applies to all bonafide possessors who are required to submit their guns accompanied by all relevant documents as per the ongoing firearms verification exercise that is going on countrywide.
It is suspected that some elements have misused their legally acquired weapons to commit crime. The zonal commander, Mr Andrew Satta, said that towards the end of last week some 561 weapons were registered after being verified. However, he said there were incidents the police were investigating.
These involved some irregularities and errors in some permits. He stressed that if some legal owners fail to abide by the deadline come April 17 they will lose ownership rights and their weapons will be confiscated.
ACP Satta was briefing the Mara RC, Magesa Mulongo, who is on a familiarisation working tour in Tarime and Rorya districts that will also see him visit other districts of the region while security and safety being top of the agenda.
The RC is also supervising the implementation of the free education initiative and accountability in public service as stipulated in the Fifth Phase Government directives.
A number of strict security measures were taken to curb criminality in the special zone introduced by the government in 2009 due to increased cattle rustling and ethnic fighting.
These included banning any livestock transportation and movement at night as well as declaring zero tolerance on marijuana cultivation and consumption.
A reward of 100,000/- was promised to any whistle blower who would report the activities of dealers in the illegal herb. The regional administrator was also told that the zone has introduced a special task force to protect and patrol the main tax collection station at sirari border post.
The idea is to combat illegal smuggling of goods in he area where for the last three months 40,000 litres of illegal petroleum was confiscated by TRA.
‘’We are going through an undertaking intended to persuade all criminals to surrender voluntarily before the expiry of the deadline while we also embark on strengthening the community policing scheme at grassroots levels where criminals mingle with innocent citizens carrying on their business as usual’’ He said during the implementing period all local leaders are advised to provide to the police all relevant information concerning criminal activities in their vicinity because investigations have shown that some criminals are accorded safe havens and shielded by unscrupulous relatives and accomplices in the community.
According to Tarime DC Glorious Luoga the authorities have banned with imme
diate effect pool table centres and other entertainment outlets from opening until 04.30 pm to allow all able bodied citizens especially youths to participate in nation building activities to spearhead the national theme ‘’Hapa kazi tu’’
‘’We have also issued instructions under the supervision of the Council’s Agricultural extension officers stationed in wards and village authorities to make sure that each and every household cultivates one hectare of food crops.
“This is a major step towards fighting hunger in future, although as of now the district’s food condition is satisfactory to the extent of having a 150 tonne surplus’’
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