AfricaPress-Tanzania: HOME Affairs minister George Simbachawene has given two weeks to shift the police station situated five kms out of Mtera Town to the town so that it serves more than 10,000 residents of Mtera Ward in Mpwapwa District.
For many years, the police station, along the Dodoma-Iringa highway has been causing much inconveniences to Mtera residents due to its being far out from the main residential area.
Simbachawene who was on official tour in the ward in his Kibakwe parliamentary constituency, visited the police station after receiving many complaints from Mtera residents and saw for himself the long distance from the main residential area.
Addressing hundreds of Mtera residents at a public rally, the minister said: “After visiting it I found it was virtually in the forest as you people have been saying, hence it was imperative that it shifts.”
He added: “The task of the police is to protect citizens and their property, the police station is far in the forest, with many crimes being committed along the road, robberies, and all other crimes against citizens are committed in their areas of residence, hence it must move closer to the people.”
He said even the police own safety was at jeopardy because “the police draw their strength from the citizens, because when they are overwhelmed they seek assistance from the citizens, so if they are attacked in that remote area who will assist them?”
However after the rally the minister agreed with ward officials that the buildings of the former Mtera dispensary should be used as a police station.
Mtera ward councillor Robert Maulya said the Mtera police station was built a long time ago, and for a special purpose at that time but now it remains very remote from the human population, hence there is every reason for it to be shifted.
Maulya also thanked president John Magufuli for providing 700m/- last year for starting a water project in the ward, saying up to now pipes have already been laid to supply water to people’s homes.
The minister also pledged to donate 10m/- as assistance in refurbishing the Form VI and VI hostel at Mtera Secondary School which will begin taking in students beginning next year.
