TANZANIA: Cleric testifies against Ponda

By Rosina John, The Citizen Correspondent.

Dar es Salaam. 

Kisutu Resident Magistrate’s Court yesterday heard that a disputed plot at Chang’ombe Markaz in the city is legally owned by Agritanza Company Limited.

Secretary General of the National Muslim Council of Tanzania (Bakwata), Sheikh Suleiman Saidi Lolila, revealed this in court yesterday when giving his testimony in the case of inciting chaos and forcibly invading a private property facing Sheikh Ponda Issa Ponda and 50 others. According to Sheikh Lolila, Agritanza signed an agreement with Bakwata to exchange the four-hectare plot at Chang’ombe Markaz with 40 hectares that Agritanza owned in Kisarawe District. 

“The agreement was approved by the Council of Ulamaa and Bakwata trustees held on January 22 last year at the council headquarters,” he told the court. Sheikh Lolila, who is the first prosecution witness to appear in court, testified before resident magistrate Victoria Nongwa.

The witness told the court that, the Egyptian government had promised to build a college at the Chang’ombe plot, but the plan was cancelled after the disputed land was sub-divided and a section sold to businessmen Yusuf Manji.

He claimed that, Bakwata decided to acquire another land for building the college, that’s why it entering into the plot exchange agreement with Agritanza.

In the case, Ponda and his co-accused allegedly conspired on October 12, this year in Dar es Salaam to commit the offence contrary to the Criminal Procedure Act.

It was alleged that, in a violent manner, Sheikh Ponda and his followers, entered and held possession of the land unlawfully. The cleric is also charged with inciting his followers to invade the land.Meanwhile, two Dar es Salaam residents, including advocate Alexander Kyaruzi, yesterday were charged with forgery and falsely obtaining Sh27 million.

Source: The Citizen (30/11/2012): http://www.thecitizen.co.tz/news/51-other-news/27523-cleric-testifies-against-ponda