Samia: Auction unclaimed herds of livestock

The Vice-President issued the order here on Monday, saying the regional government should not incur more costs of keeping the seized herds of cattle while their owners are not showing signs of claim. More than 1,000 cattle were reportedly seized in Mwanga District, Kilimanjaro Region recently after unlawfully trespassing into the Northern region from a neighbouring country.

“I instruct the region (management) in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries to ensure they hasten the process of auctioning the cattle to save the region from incurring more cost of keeping them,” she directed.

She further instructed local livestock keepers to mark their herds with unique labels to ease identifications during operations against unlawful grazing in the Northern region.

In another development, the Vice-President urged the residents to assist the government in controlling illegal movement of cattle from neighbouring countries by reporting to authorities whenever they are spotted in the country.

It was reported that about 1,105 cattle were still being held at Lembeli, 60 km south-east of Moshi town after illegally grazing in Tanzania. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and East African Co-operation has directed Tanzanians with livestock in neighouring countries to abide by laws of the host nations, and immediately bring them back.

The directives come hardly a week after the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries issued a seven-day ultimatum to foreigners with livestock in Tanzania to immediately take them back to their home countries or risk confiscation by the government.

And, in a statement issued yesterday by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation, the government warned citizens fond of colluding with foreigners to bring their herds of livestock into the country for pasture and water that it is illegal.

“Of late, there has been an increasing trend by some outsiders who penetrate through the borders with their livestock in search of water and pasture; such practice should stop as it fuels insecurity, environmental degradation and spread of diseases.