Ministers to work on Bunda land redress

 
THREE ministers have agreed to team up and work towards an everlasting solution to clear the air over controversy surrounding the amount of compensation paid to Bunda residents to pave way for Export Processing Zones.

Ministers for Industry, Trade and Investment, Mr Charles Mwijage; Home Affairs, Mr Mwigulu Nchemba and Regional Administration and Local Government, Mr George Simbachawene will work together to establish the exact amount of compensation paid to people who gave their lands for EPZ set-up. 

 

It all started after Ms Esther Bulaya (Bunda Urban- Chadema) who in her main question wanted to know when the victims will be paid all their due compensation package which they have been waiting for seven years.

In response, Mr Mwijage said 2.3bn/- have been paid as compensation to Kirumi residents between 2009 and 2012 with an exception of three people who owes the government 21.9m/-. It was at this juncture that Ms Bulaya said Mr Mwigaje was misinformed by his assistant, “as only 1.2bn/- has been paid’’.

Following the statement, Mr Mwijage sought the intervention of the Home Affairs; and Regional Administration and Local Government ministers to establish the truth and if any cheating unfolds, then the suspects would have to be taken to task.

Mr Mwijage said in May this year they had asked the Prevention of Corruption and Combating Bureau (PCCB) and Controller and Auditor General (CAG) to investigate how the funds issued as compensation to Kirumi residents to pave way for EPZ construction had been spent.

He added that they were waiting for the investigation report. However, Ms Bulaya wanted the matter speeded up, saying that it was delaying economic development projects in her constituency.