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Tanzania's ruling party blames opposition over claims of food shortage

Xinhua, January 18, 2017 Adjust font size:

Tanzania's ruling party, Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM), on Tuesday lashed out at opposition parties for misleading the public on food situation in the east African country.

Humphrey Polepole, CCM Ideology and Publicity Secretary, said politicians and traders claimed Tanzania was facing food shortage in order to attain cheap political mileage.

He told a news conference in the commercial capital Dar es Salaam that opposition parties were creating food shortage to help them achieve their political interests.

Polepole appealed to the public to ignore false and misleading information given by leaders of opposition political parties on food situation.

He urged the public to support the government on its endeavours aimed at improving social services and boosting economic growth.

"Politics should be done in a proper manner that would not compromise peace, unity and harmony in the county," said Polepole.

On Monday, Tanzanian Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa said Tanzania was not facing any food shortage and urged Tanzanians to ignore rumours of famine.

"The government is the only authority to release reports on food shortage. Reports that Tanzania is facing food shortage are completely false," said the PM in the political capital Dodoma.

Majaliwa made the statement following reports in local media, opposition parties and religious organisations claiming that Tanzania was facing food shortage.

"Last year the country had food surplus to the tune of 3 million tonnes, a situation that made Members of Parliament and traders to request the government to give permits for selling the surplus food abroad," said Majaliwa.

He said the government released the permits and 1.5 million tonnes were exported abroad and the remaining 1.5 million tonnes were reserved for use in the country.

Charles Tizeba, the Minister for Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries, told a news conference in the commercial capital Dar es Salaam that preliminary food production conducted in July 2016 showed that the country had 123 percent food surplus.

Tizeba said 11 regions out of 26 regions had enough food reserves, 12 regions had relatively enough food and only two regions were facing pockets of food shortage. Endit