Dodoma — INVESTORS who violate regulations on modern commercial livestock keeping have been reminded to abide by law.

The Minister for Livestock Development and Fisheries, Dr Mathayo David Mathayo told the Parliament here that there are investors who run livestock blocks contrary to the agreements reached between them and the National Ranching Company (NARCO).

"The government will conduct an investigation to uncover investors who basically agreed to conduct modern and commercial business, but instead rent the blocks to foreign livestock keepers contrary to the governing procedures," he said.

He was responding to a question raised by Sylvester Kasulumbayi (Maswa East - Chadema), who wanted to get government's explanation on the ownership and state of five ranches in Kagera Region that are not operating well.

Mr Kasulumbayi mentioned the ranches as Kitengule, Mabale, Misenyi, Kagoma and Kikulula which he claimed that part of them were given to foreign investors who have failed to develop them according to the agreements.

Minister Mathayo said in 2005 the government decided to allocate 52 small ranches where 14 ranches were given to the villagers and 38 to local investors and promised to hold accountable dishonest investors implicated in illegal dealings. He said the list of dishonest local investors colluding with foreign ones will be made available to all MPs before tough action is taken again them.