Councillor threatens suicide in land meeting as generator scam resurfaces

Ward Councillor in Nkasi District in Rukwa Region, Mr Egid Ngomeni has threatened to commit suicide if 450 families out of 1,500 people residing in Mfili Reserve Forest will be.

Beaming with anger and blaming Nkasi North constituency Member of Parliament (CCM), the politician said he would take such bitter action if his people will be evicted by force from the reserve forest because of what he called personal vendetta based on political hatred with the MP.

Mr Ngomeni made the decision during a full council meeting held over the weekend in Namanyere town in Nkasi, where other 37 fellow Councillors also threatened to resign from their political posts if the government maintains to kick out 1,500 people by force from the forest.

The meeting that was chaired by the Nkasi District Council Chairman, Mr Sumuni Mwanakulya, and all councillors regardless of their political affiliations, insisted that if the government did not respect their decisions, they will resign from their civic posts because the law allows them to do so.

The councillors all raised accusing fingers to the MP who was only named as Mr Kessy, for his political disgust to them and the people living in the forest reserve, with claims that they did not vote for him during last year general election.

Mr Kessy who was absent in the meeting, as he is currently attending Parliament sessions in Dodoma, when contacted by ‘Daily News’ reacted that he was more than ready to resign also his parliamentary seat, once it was officially established that there are ‘450 families living in the Mfili forest reserve,’ adding that they are very few in numbers.

He further said he had already liaised with the Attorney General who had confirmed to him that the councillors do not have ‘legal or political protection’ in the case of the members of parliament.

Mr Kessy then sent short message in Kiswahili through his mobile phone to this reporter reading: “This councillor (Ms Mayoka) who accused me involving engine (generator) of water department …once I return back (from Dodoma ) I will ask her to testify before the court , as she has libelled me … the court will rule over the matter, she must prepare the evidences … Councillors do not have political immunities as the MPs , I doubt if she is aware of that.... now she will understand the meaning of parroting and mimicking.”

The lawmaker also pointed out that he will take to court the area Special Seat Councillor, Ms Ester Mayoka for defamation, who alleged that he was involved in a dubious payment of over 500m/- in the purchase of what he termed a ‘bogus generator’ for Mfili water supply where he breached procurement procedures.

The councillors maintained that the 1,500 people earmarked for eviction issue in Mfili forest reserve, is a separate thing that the MP should not confuse with the generator purchase scam, adding that the machine in question also was for the benefit of 4,000 residents of Namanyere Town, the Headquarters of Nkasi District.