Leaflets distributed in Kilimanjaro by Islamic extremist but census went smoothly in the region

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Tue, Aug 28th, 2012

Tanzania |

The census exercise went on smoothly in Kilimanjaro Region despite leaflets suspected to have been distributed by some members of Islamic extremist group discouraging people to be counted by enumerators, it was learnt here.

Kilimanjaro-Regional-Commissioner-Leonidas-Gama.jpg

Kilimanjaro Regional Commissioner, Leonidas Gama


The Kilimanjaro Regional Commissioner, Mr Leonidas Gama, said despite the discouraging messages, the regional functionaries tactfully managed to convince the group on the negative effect of evading the census which is essential for development goals.


He said leaflets were found in four incidents in two census centres in Moshi municipality as well as in Mwanga and Same districts, adding that messages contained in the leaflets have no relevance with the national population and household census.


He said a total of 3,357 centres were in place of which 2,279 the short questionnaires would be used, and 1,078 the long questionnaires will be used, Mr Gama revealed. He said of the 4,937 census clerks, 2,156 are assigned to conduct long questionnaires while short questionnaires will be conducted by 2,279 clerks, adding that there are 153 reserve clerks and 349 supervisors.


Mr Gama has urged the District Defence and Security Committees to ensure that peace prevailed during the exercise, which is expected to wind up on Saturday this week, and that trouble-makers would face music.


In Kigoma, Muslims camped in mosques to avoid Census Clerks. Kigoma saw Muslims who are against the exercise, hiding in mosques, refusing to be counted. The Kigoma District Commissioner, Mr Ramadhani Maneno, told journalist yesterday that in their preliminary assessment of the exercise, they found out that the Muslims were locking themselves in mosques, but they are working to address the challenge.


He said the challenge was noted in Mwandiga and Katonga areas, adding that even after discussing with their leaders, they did not arrive at an amicable decision. He said the faithful have been conducting prayers and sleeping in the mosques, in a bid to avoid the census clerks.


He added that in Bubango village, Bitale ward in the district, 40 out of 64 families have refused to be counted in the Census exercise. He said upon reaching the homesteads, the clerks were told heads of the families were not present, and that those who were present do not know details.


The Kigoma Regional Police Commander, Mr Fraiser Kashai, said 11 people including Kibondo locality chairman have been arrested for encouraging people to refrain from the exercise. Those arrested include Juma Hussein, Shuri Hamad, Hadija Siajari, Idrisa ibrahimu, Yapemacho Hussein and Nkatula Issa, a resident of Uvinza who was caught distributing leaflets urging people to refuse to be counted.


RPC Kashai named Mussa Sadick, Japhari Abdallah, Husein Hassan and Halfani Rashidi who decided to camp in mosques but continued to encourage other people to refused to participate in the exercise. He added that the Kalunde B chairman in Kibondo district refused to cooperate with Census Clerks and continued encouraging people to refuse to participate in the exercise.


By Rose Athumani,
Tanzania Daily News


 
What is objectionable, what is dangerous about extremists, is not that they are extreme, but that they are intolerant. The evil is not what they say about their cause, but what they say about their opponents.

 
siasa kali zaweza fanya kazi Pwani,Tanga, Tabora,Mtwara , Lindi na kwa mbali Dar
 
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