AfricaPress-Tanzania: POLICE in Kahama District, Shinyanga Region have detained two people from Kalole village in Lunguya Ward of Msalala District in connection with a 10-acre marijuana farm and a warehouse for storage of the illicit produce.
The two – Nding’wa Masinde (54), a resident of Kalole village and Yohana Bula (25) residing at Tabora Itumbo were arrested after a police operation that led to the 10-acre farm.
Kalole Village Executive Officer Nyawaminza Migabe said the two were arrested in the police operation in collaboration with village officials.
Police also arrested Charles Lubiwa, allegedly found with an unspecified number of marijuana sticks and after interrogation he mentioned Masinde as the supplier of the lot.
“After Masinde’s arrest we made an announcement to all villagers to inform them that the suspect was a big farmer of marijuana – the illicit drug that is banned,” the official stated.
Villagers were told to stop cultivating illicit crops including marijuana and instead focus on the cultivation of maize, rice and potatoes, he said, pointing out that Kalole villagers engage in gold mining, with marijuana users found in the mine pits close to the village.
Masinde confessed upon interrogation to be cultivating the illicit crop, noting that his elder brother advised him on the farming venture as the product the market was readily available in the gold mining areas of Buswangili, Tambarare as well as Kalole.
For his part, Kalole village chairman Hamisi Misungwi, said the villagers are mobilized to eradicate marijuana farming around their village, with regular inspections of villagers’ farms to ensure they were planted with legitimate crops.
Ndebile Masanja, a villager, said the villagers were depressed to see many youths in their village being destroyed, urging the government to restrict individuals seeking to cultivate the illicit crop.
When contacted, Regional Police Commander Debora Magirigimba confirmed the incident, noting that she was by then out of office and expects to make a follow up
