Juma Mwapachu states 'Kilimo Kwanza' offers development opportunities but fails to protect agricultural investors

In 2006, Juma Mwapachu met with British investors Stewart Middleton and Sarah Hermitage in Arusha and promised to protect them from the criminal conduct of Benjamin Mengi and the Moshi Police.

In 2006, Juma Mwapachu met with British investors Stewart Middleton and Sarah Hermitage in Arusha. He was at this time Minister of Police. He was joined at the meeting with former Minister of Justice Dr. Mary Nagu, former Minister of Investment and Empowerment Dr. Juma Ngasongwa and the then head of Tanzania criminal investigation department of the Tanzanian Police.

The above were briefed on the criminal conduct of Benjamin Mengi and the Moshi police and Judiciary in the criminal attempts by Benjamin Mengi to steal the lease to Silverdale & Mbono Farms. In particular, Mwapachu was briefed on how Mengi was persistently using the police to harass the investors.

Mwapachu stated, 'you will have my help'. He then gave the investors his private telephone number and asked them to call him when they were being abused by the Moshi police.

Some three weeks later, Stewart Middleton was parked outside of Moshi central Police station. Benjamin Mengi pulled up beside him in his red Nissan Patrol and alighted from the vehicle and went towards two armed police outside of the entrance to the police office and had a discussion with the two officers. Middleton could see instantly what was transpiring and a friend at the police office ran to the car and told him to go immediately as Mengi had just paid the officers to come and arrest him. Middleton drove from the police station at speed pursued by Mengi, in Mengi's vehicle with the two armed officers in the back. Middleton made it back to his farm where he drove to his house and locked the gates.

He was pursued by Mengi and the officers who illegally entered the farms and attempted to enter Middleton's house and arrest him. He had no reason given for the arrest.  Middleton telephoned Mwapachu to tell him of the conduct of the Moshi police and Mengi.

Mwapachu stated, 'don't bother me' and hung up.

The officers and Mengi left the farm a few minutes later.