Manyara regional police commander Deusdedit Nsimeki speaks to the media
in Kiteto District about an
operation aimed at bringing order and calm in the area yesterday.
operation aimed at bringing order and calm in the area yesterday.
Kiteto. Two primary schools
have been virtually closed in the wake of ongoing clashes pitting
farmers
and herders in Kiteto District, Manyara Region, The Citizen on Saturday has learnt.
and herders in Kiteto District, Manyara Region, The Citizen on Saturday has learnt.
Over 820 pupils and teachers fled Ilera and
Chekanao primary schools since November 13, this year,
for fear of the clashes which officials estimate to have claimed seven lives so far.
for fear of the clashes which officials estimate to have claimed seven lives so far.
The headteacher of Ilera Primary School situated
in Partimbo Ward, Mr Cornel Akwezo said he was
not aware of the whereabouts of 300 pupils and their teachers.
not aware of the whereabouts of 300 pupils and their teachers.
“I am not at the school myself, for not a single
pupil or any of the six teachers can go to the school for
fear of the clashes,” he said.
fear of the clashes,” he said.
He said owing to lack of houses, teachers resided
13 kilometres away from the primary school situated
at Matui, the area which farmers and herders had turned into their battle ground.
at Matui, the area which farmers and herders had turned into their battle ground.
His Chekanoa Primary School counterpart, Mr Paulo
Sulle, said 526 pupils, including 80 Standard
Four ones who were supposed to sit for an examination on Wednesday, were absent.
Four ones who were supposed to sit for an examination on Wednesday, were absent.
“This prompted the school to be virtually closed,
for even teachers have fled,” said the headteacher,
explaining that the teachers had rented houses in the very streets turned battle-field.
explaining that the teachers had rented houses in the very streets turned battle-field.
The chairman of Changanyikeni sub-Village at
Chekanao Village, Mr Abubakar Nchii, confirmed
saying most of the pupils had fled the area along with their parents.“Most of them went to Kondoa
and Kongwa districts while few have sought refuge in distant villages of the war-torn district,” he said.
saying most of the pupils had fled the area along with their parents.“Most of them went to Kondoa
and Kongwa districts while few have sought refuge in distant villages of the war-torn district,” he said.
Mr Bosco Ndunguru, the Kiteto district council
director, admitted that the two primary schools were
adversely affected by the clashes and that a national task force was already in the district to find a lasting
solution for the standoff.
adversely affected by the clashes and that a national task force was already in the district to find a lasting
solution for the standoff.
The Manyara regional police commander, Mr
Deusdedit Nsimeki, assured residents of the ill-fated
district that the Police Force had restored stability, calling on those who have fled to return to their now
‘safe’ homes.
district that the Police Force had restored stability, calling on those who have fled to return to their now
‘safe’ homes.
“Law enforcers are scattered around every corner,”
he stressed. Besides seven lives so far lost to
the November 11 and 13 clashes, hundreds of livestock have been stolen and others injured.
the November 11 and 13 clashes, hundreds of livestock have been stolen and others injured.