Majaliwa orders the arrest of officials of the cooperative for disappearance

"You should arrest the rulers and ask them about the farmers' money," said the prime minister, saying the rulers must be detained until the money is recovered.

According to Charles Tizeba, Minister of Agriculture Tobacco Sales in 2014.

He gave the directive Monday during a speech at a rally in the Ulowa district, district of Kahama. The Prime Minister is making a five-day visit to the Shinyanga area.

The leaders who were allegedly present at a public meeting disappeared immediately after Prime Minister Majaliwa asked them to explain how the funds had been spent.

The cooperative society Mkombozi under Ushetu AMCOS is headed by Shilinde Abdallah (chairman), accountant, Kulwa Shinzi and seven members of the board of directors

Earlier in the presentation of a report on culture Tobacco in the district, the chairman of the Kahama Cooperative Union (KACU), Emmanuel Cherehani said that tobacco prices had remained stable. ] Majaliwa warned AMCOS leaders not to abuse the farmers' money by insisting on taking drastic measures against them. He said the government's decision to revive agricultural cooperative societies was to help farmers sell their agricultural products easily.

"We want co-operative societies to be run by truthful leaders able to protect co-operative properties."

He urged farmers to start saving money for the purchase of agricultural inputs and fertilizers instead of borrowing them from suppliers. He said that the borrowing of funds for fertilizers and other inputs affects their income as part of the income generated is spent to settle the debts.

"You will hardly get out of poverty if you continue to borrow money to grow tobacco.The cost of producing one acre of tobacco is $ 150,000 / – you can save money. Money on your bank accounts and use it the next season in order to make a profit, "the MP noted.

Tobacco is one of the main crops in Tanzania. It generated some $ 325 million in export earnings (5.3% of the total) in 2016 and creates jobs for farmers and workers in the tobacco industry.

Last year, Majaliwa dissolved the Tanzania Tobacco Board (TTB) and several leaders of the Western Union Tobacco Growers Co-operative Union (WETCU) suspected of embezzlement.