Residents of Malolo ‘A’ village in Mikumi Division, Kilosa District have rejected investigation results issued by the office of the Chief Government Chemist regarding the crude oil spill from the Tanzania - Zambia Oil Pipeline (TAZAMA), claiming the Office did not consider the extent of its effects on people.

The statement came just after the Chief Chemist sent back the results to the villagers, showing that the specimen collected from six people who claimed to have been affected showed that the people were in good health.

One resident Hussein Daud Madodola, said the fact that the Chief Chemist only collected specimen from a few people did not reflect the reality on the ground in terms of people affected.

"People who drank and who continue drinking contaminated water due to the spill are many. How come they took blood specimen from only six people?

How would the results reflect the reality on the ground?" he asked. Madodola added that todate there was still oil contaminating water in Malolo River, which is the main source of water for domestic use and still people continue using it.

Another resident from the village, Gerald Salama, said TAZAMA in collaboration with the Kilosa District Council had agreed to compensate the residents for the affected crops, but this was yet to be implemented.

“We were told that we will be compensated, but what is surprising is the fact that no one has received such payment. Even the evaluation of the loss has not been conducted," said Salama.

He said the people were worried that they would never be compensated for the losses they incurred following withering of their crops due to the oil effect.

Another resident, Semeni Kuwe, said since they were told by the Deputy Minister for Energy and Minerals, Adam Malima, five months ago that they would be compensated, nothing has been done so far.

“I've despaired. Even the Kilosa District Commissioner and police officers came here but nothing has been done so far. Only Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) people came but nothing is taking place apart from wasting our time," she said.

Early this year the TAZAMA pipeline carrying crude oil from Dar es Salaam port to Zambia burst at Malolo A Village and spilled crude oil, contaminating water in Malolo River, and spreading to farms that had crops and therefore threatening the living organisms it came into contact with.