The Rorya District Commissioner (DC), Mr Elias Goroi, has said he is not involved in cattle rustling as it has been painted by some few mainstream media quoting Rorya MP, Lameck Airo (CCM).
Rorya MP, Lameck Airo (CCM)
The DC has termed the reports as plain lies deliberately painted to frustrate efforts made by the government to ensure that there is good governance and rule of law in the district, which had in the past marred by frequent cattle rustling and tribal clashes.
“Reports that I am involved in cattle rustling are not true. This is a cooked story and very dangerous,” the DC told reporters in his office at Ingiri Juu Village, on Wednesday morning.
“This cooked up story has shocked many people in Rorya and beyond. I have been receiving many calls even from outside Tanzania from people who want to know the truth,” Mr Goroi who is professionally a journalist said.
He practised journalism before being appointed district commissioner several years ago and has served in various parts of the country.
The DC further refuted reports that he does not like Rorya people after the district authorities stopped an exercise said to be conducted by people assigned by Rorya MP, Mr Airo, meant to determine the number of cattle stolen in the district between 2004-2005, so that they can be compensated by the government.
Mr Goroi said despite the fact that the exercise was mismanaged, the matter had never been communicated at any level of government and they are yet to get an order from the president instructing implementation of the issue. ‘Claims that this is a directive from the honourable president are not true.
We are the implementers of the President’s directives and we are yet to receive the directive. We intervened after learning that the exercise was being mismanaged and causing unnecessary conflicts in the villages. We wanted things to be done authentically,” the DC explained.
Mr Airo (Rorya MP) was not immediately available for comment, as his mobile phone was out of reach by the time of going to press.
According to the DC, many efforts have been made by security personnel to end cattle rustling incidents that were being perpetrated by heavily armed men, as well as making Rorya a safe place in recent years.
“We have not recorded even a single incident of armed robbery for almost 12 months now and this is a great change. Community policing has also been very successful in our district and the police force is doing a commendable job. Rorya is now stable,” the DC explained.
Rorya was one of the most hostile areas that forced President Jakaya Kikwete’s government to form a special police zone that has greatly made the two districts (Rorya and Tarime) safe for people to engage in productive activities as compared to the past.
The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Said Mwema, awarded Rorya District with certificates after it was rated as one of the safest districts nationwide early this year. The ceremony to present the awards was held at Bukwe Ward and graced by Mr Goroi.
“The certificates we got from the IGP after the national evaluation is clear testimony that Rorya is now safe,” the DC stated, vowing to stand firm to ensure that there is good governance and rule of law in Rorya.
By MUGINI JACOB, Tanzania Daily News
