Prof Tibaijuka debating the budget presentation of the Prime Ministers Office at the Tanzania Parliament in Dodoma. She welcomed the budget overall but observed that it was short on measures to help farmers, fishermen and livestock keepers in her constituency of Muleba South.
For farmers she lamented the fact that Kagera region in general and Muleba South in particular have never seen vochers as subsidies for improved farm inputs. Why are my people being discriminated against said Tibaijuka? In the last Bunge I was forced to beg for food from the retired Prime Minister Pinda because of food shortage.
This is because of the neglect of grain producers in my area. Said she, why is it that in Kagera region we do not have any agricultural research station at a time when the banana wilt (mnyauko) is still a big problem.
For fishermen she begged the Prime Minister to improve safety and security. Fishermen are being terrorized by heavily armed mercenaries who take away their machine and fishing gear and brutalize them. We need police stations with well armed and well equipped policemen. The thieves have speed boats.
For the livestock keepers she asked the Government to de-gazette some reserve forest land and game controlled areas since they have been overtaken by time. Livestock has no where else to go if we are to avoid conflicts with farmers she said. We need to identify grazing land and reserve land and agricultural land.
Professor Tibaijuka said this to great acclaim by fellow parliamentarians who clapped in agreement
