Kenya imeilalamikia Tanzania kwenye kitu walichokiita 'Kubadilishwa kwa sera inayobariki vitendo vya kihasama dhidi ya raia wa Kenya na biashara zao
Siku ya Jumatatu Katibu wa Mambo ya Nje na Diplomasia Tom Amollo alikosoa hatua ya Tanzania kuchoma vifaranga moto na kupiga ng'ombe mnada bila kuzihusisha mamlaka za nchi hiyo
Ameelezea kitendo hicho kinahatarisha kuchafua uhusiano mzuri uliokuwepo baina ya nchi hizo kwa muda mrefu
Hatua hiyo ilipelekea maofisa wa Kenya kumuita balozi wa Tanzania nchini humo Pindi Chana kuelezea juu ya 'maamuzi ya upande mmoja yanaoyathiri nchi zote mbili'
'Uhusiano kati ya Kenya na Tanzania ni wa muda mrefu na wenye manufaa makubwa, haufai kuhatarishwa na vitu vidogo ambavyo vinaweza kutatuliwa kwa mazungumzo'' Katibu huyo aliwaambia wajumbe wa Tanzania kwenye mkutano uliofanyika Nairobi
''Kunaweza kuwa na haja ya kuwakutanisha kwa haraka maafisa wa mpakani kutoka Kenya na Tanzania kuzungumzia matatizo haya yanayojitokeza kwenye mipaka''
Pia Kenya imelaumu kuchomwa kwa vifaranga 6,400 na kwa madai ya kuenea kwa ugonjwa wa mafua ya ndege na kusema ugonjwa wa ndege haujawahi kuripotiwa Kenya
Serikali pia imesema kitendo cha kupiga mnada ng'ombe 1,325 kutoka Kenya ni
kutojali shida au maslahi ya wananchi wa Kenya walioathirika "licha ya viongozi kutoka Kenya kuomba kususbirishwa kwa zoezi hilo'
"Ufugaji katika mipaka hutokea sio tu mpaka wa Tanzania, lakini pia kwa mipaka yetu na Uganda, Sudan Kusini na Ethiopia, lakini hakuna hata mmoja kati ya nchi hizi imeamua kuchukua hatua kubwa kama hizi dhidi ya mali ya raia wa nchi jirani na rafiki'' Amollo alisema.
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Kenya has formally protested to Tanzania over what Nairobi terms “a policy shift that condones hostile actions against Kenyan citizens and their business interests”.
On Monday, Foreign Affairs Political and Diplomatic Secretary Tom Amollo criticised Tanzania’s decision to burn chicks imported from Kenya as well as auction animals from Kenyan herders without involving authorities in Nairobi.
He said such actions risked soiling historical relations between the two countries.
RELATIONS
The move followed the summoning of Tanzanian High Commissioner Pindi Chana by Kenyan foreign officials for “Tanzania’s unilateral actions on issues affecting the two countries”.
“Kenya-Tanzania relations are longstanding, rich and complex and should not be jeopardised by a hardening of positions over minor issues that can be easily resolved through candid and open dialogue,” he told the Tanzanian envoy during a meeting in Nairobi.
“There may be need to urgently convene the Kenya-Tanzania Joint Border Commissioners/Administrators Committee Meeting to address emerging cross border issues,” he added.
BIRD FLU
The issue arose from a move last week by the Tanzanian Livestock ministry to burn 6,400 chicks imported from Kenya, apparently to prevent the spread of bird flu.
But the act was condemned by animal enthusiasts from both sides.
Kenya complained that no case of the bird flu had been reported within Kenya’s borders.
While Tanzania said the importation of the chicks was not supported by paperwork.
ILLEGAL GRAZING
In October, Tanzania auctioned 1,325 head of cattle belonging to Kenyan herders after they were confiscated for grazing in Tanzania.
Nairobi protested that the move was a “blatant disregard of the plight or interests of the affected Kenyan citizens” despite appeals from Kenya officials to delay it.
Dr Chana said 70 head of cattle had been seized in Tarakea, and herders fined for illegal grazing and environmental degradation, but they failed to raise the fine.
Kenya argued the decision violated historical relations between the two countries.
“Cross-border grazing happens not only along the border with Tanzania, but also along our borders with Uganda, South Sudan and Ethiopia, yet none of these countries has resorted to such drastic action against the property of citizens of a neighbouring and friendly country,” Mr Amollo said.
Source: Daily Nation