Crime: Don’t panic, says Lowassa
 
2006-02-15 07:51:40
By Juma Thomas, Dodoma

	Prime Minister Edward Lowassa.

Violent crime has not spiralled out of control in the country and people should not panic, the government said yesterday.

Prime Minister Edward Lowassa gave the assurance in Parliament when winding up debate on the speech President Kikwete delivered when inaugurating the House last December.

’The situation is not all that serious. Tanzania is still a peaceful country and this crime wave will soon be dealt with,’Lowassa said, adding that the government was doing all in its power to fight the scourge.

He commended people who had volunteered information on suspected criminals so far and asked the public to assist the government in its efforts to stamp out crime.

The prime minister said a number of senior police officers had been linked to the current crime wave, but gave no details.

On hunger, Lowassa said the government had asked for US$50 million (55bn/-) from the donor community for buying and distributing food in areas worst hit by drought, adding that the government would import 42,000 tonnes of food to avert famine.

He urged religious institutions and other non-governmental organisations to assist the government in distributing relief aid to the needy.

Lowassa said last year’s elections were free and fair and asked Tanzanians to concentrate on building the nation.
’The election is over. We should now forge ahead and build our nation,’ he said.

He criticised politicians who were going around asking donor countries to stop assisting Tanzania, saying such conduct was not in the interests of ordinary Tanzanians.

• SOURCE: Guardian