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Errant land officers to face the music
2006-11-10 09:05:09
By Pascal Shao, Dodoma
The Ministry of Lands, Housing and Human Settlements Development will investigate the validity of permits issued to occupants of wet areas and water sources.
The move will facilitate the taking of appropriate disciplinary measures against relevant authorities.
This was revealed by Deputy Minister Rita Mlaki, when she was responding to a supplementary question asked by Savelina Mwijage (CUF Special Seats).
Mlaki said that once it was discovered that some officials in her ministry were involved in the issuance of such controversial land titles, then they would be bound to face legal measures.
She said water sources were among protected areas which should not be degraded through agricultural activities or anything of the kind.
”The National Land Policy of 1995 states that that such areas are crucial and are not supposed to be allocated to anybody,” Mlaki said.
She said the Land Act of 1999 also recognized reserved areas. The minister said that the Act stipulated that a 60-metre zone bordering a water sources had to be spared.
However, she added that people who were in possession of such titles would be compensated once they were ordered to vacate their plots.
She said that according to the Village Land Act, compensation covered the value of land, non transferable development, disturbance, transport, rental and lost profit allowances.
”Rental, transport and loss of profit allowances will be paid by the government if the lands were not developed,” the minister said.
Responding to a question asked by Zainab Vullu (CCM special seats), Mlaki said that a foreigner or non citizen could be allocated land in line with the Investment Act of 1997.
”Companies, institutions or any legally recognised organ, most of whose shareholders are foreigners, will be regarded as foreign companies or institutions. Their title deeds will be issued only on the grounds of investment,” she said.
She clarified that for foreigners, once the duration for ownership elapsed or was revoked, all rights would be retained by the Tanzania Investment Centre or any authority announced in the Government gazette or the minister for lands.
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