The Citizen (Dar es Salaam)
Peter Nyanje
5 November 2009
Dodoma — Police in Tarime District killed more than ten villagers between January and this month, according to area MP Charles Mwera.
The killings took place in Nyamongo Village, which borders the North Mara Gold Mine, the MP said in Parliament yesterday.
Mr Mwera said during Prime Minister's Questions that the Government should issue a statement on the incidents.
However, Prime Minister Mizengo Pinda could not provide a direct answer to the question, saying he had no information on the reported deaths.
"But because you have asked for the Government's reaction, the first thing which I must do is to send my condolences to the families which have lost their loved ones."
However, Mr Pinda informed the House that he would direct Home Affairs minister Lawrence Masha to send a fact-finding team to Nyamongo Village.
"This is a very serious matter that we cannot afford to ignore. I will direct Mr Masha to go there to establish the facts," said Mr Pinda. He added that he would be in a position to know what happened in the area once the team submits its report to the Government.
Of late, areas surrounding the mine have been the centre of persistent wrangles between local residents and the gold mine management.
Several people and dozens of livestock reportedly died earlier this year following seepage of contaminated water from the mine's pond.
The mine's management accused villagers of vandalising the mining firm's property, including the lining material placed at the bottom of the pond.
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