Ragamuffin
Senior Member
- May 2, 2009
- 160
- 6
Speaking at theCommonwealth Business Forum in Perth, Australia this week President JakayaKikwete of Tanzania said that Africa had all the qualifications to be a globaleconomic powerhouse in the 21 century if the potentials in the continent wereeffectively developed.
The Presidentemphasised the need for agricultural development stating this needs hugeinvestments by governments and the private sector in modern equipment, irrigation,use of quality seeds for higher productivity, use of pesticides andfertiliser.
Whilst PresidentKikwete espoused the benefits of investing in Tanzania a British M.P. calledfor a parliamentary debate on the dangers of such investment referring toBritish nationals Stewart Middleton and Sarah Hermitage, investors in theagricultural sector in Tanzania forced to flee the country in 2008 due toharassment and intimidation facilitated by the State with the loss of theirentire investment together with the loss of 150 Tanzanian jobs.
Roger Gale posed thefollowing question to the leader of the House of Commons Sir George Young atParliamentary question time on 27[SUP]th[/SUP] October:
Sir George Young replied
The CommonwealthBusiness Forum was run concurrently with the Commonwealth Heads of GovernmentMeeting at which Australian Prime Minister Ms Julian Gillard took over thethrone as chair of the Commonwealth stating Commonwealth countries sharevalues of the rule of law and democracy.
Roger Gales question does not sitcomfortably with President Kikwetes commitment to Commonwealth ideals andnecessarily casts a doubt over Tanzania as a safe place for foreign investment.
Mr. Gales question can beread at the Parliamentary Hansard reports at the following link:
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201011/cmhansrd/cm111027/debtext/111027-0002.htm
The Presidentemphasised the need for agricultural development stating this needs hugeinvestments by governments and the private sector in modern equipment, irrigation,use of quality seeds for higher productivity, use of pesticides andfertiliser.
Whilst PresidentKikwete espoused the benefits of investing in Tanzania a British M.P. calledfor a parliamentary debate on the dangers of such investment referring toBritish nationals Stewart Middleton and Sarah Hermitage, investors in theagricultural sector in Tanzania forced to flee the country in 2008 due toharassment and intimidation facilitated by the State with the loss of theirentire investment together with the loss of 150 Tanzanian jobs.
Roger Gale posed thefollowing question to the leader of the House of Commons Sir George Young atParliamentary question time on 27[SUP]th[/SUP] October:
Speaking in Australia this week, President Kikweteof Tanzania urged investors in his country to reinvest the profits from theircompanies in his country. Unfortunately, as the Foreign and Commonwealth Officewell knows, he is the same President Kikwete who is in thrall to the mediabaron Reginald Mengi and who has done nothing to give satisfaction to myconstituents Sarah and Stewart Hermitage, whose farm in Tanzania was stolenfrom them by Mr Mengis brother. Could we have a debate in Government time todiscuss not only the joys but the dangers of investing in Tanzania?
Sir George Young replied
I amsorry to hear about that loss of property on the part of my Hon. Friendsconstituents. I shall certainly raise the issue with the Foreign andCommonwealth Officethe FCO Minister for Europe, my right Hon. Friend theMember for Aylesbury (Mr Lidington), is in his place at the momentand seewhether there are any representations it can make to get justice for the peoplewhose property was confiscated. "
The CommonwealthBusiness Forum was run concurrently with the Commonwealth Heads of GovernmentMeeting at which Australian Prime Minister Ms Julian Gillard took over thethrone as chair of the Commonwealth stating Commonwealth countries sharevalues of the rule of law and democracy.
Roger Gales question does not sitcomfortably with President Kikwetes commitment to Commonwealth ideals andnecessarily casts a doubt over Tanzania as a safe place for foreign investment.
Mr. Gales question can beread at the Parliamentary Hansard reports at the following link:
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201011/cmhansrd/cm111027/debtext/111027-0002.htm