TPDF identifies dispute spots nationally to compensate villagers

THE Tanzania People’s Defence Force (TPDF) has earmarked all areas in the country where its military bases face land conflicts with surrounding villagers as it seeks funds to conduct border reviews and compensate to people in some parts where it has encroached on their land.

Defence and National Service Minister, Dr Hussein Mwinyi, informed the National Assembly yesterday that the ministry had allocated 12bn/- during the fiscal year 2016/2017 to conduct evaluation in areas with disputes.

“It should, however, be noted that such disputes have three scenarios; there are some people who encroached on military bases who are supposed to leave and there are areas where the army has eaten into villages’ land.

“There are also some places where the borders between the military bases and villages are disputed, creating a need to conduct assessment. However, this exercise is held back by limited resources,” Dr Mwinyi remarked.

According to the Minister, once the assessment is conducted the TPDF will be required to compensate residents in some areas to enable it to acquire the land.

The Minister made the explanation is his answer to a supplementary question by Njombe North MP, Mr Deo Sanga (CCM), who had wanted explanation regarding the conflicts.

Dr Mwinyi admitted there are such disagreements between villages and army barracks in many parts of the country and blamed limited resources for holding back efforts to conduct border assessment to address the situation.

In another development, Dr Mwinyi said the government was committed to address land conflicts between villages in Monduli District and the TPDF military base there.