Geita — The Commissioner of Operations and Training of the Tanzania Police Force, Mr. Awadhi Haji, announced that incidents of abduction, theft, vandalism, robbery and extortion targeting fishermen on Lake Victoria have declined by more than 80 percent. He made the statement during an exclusive interview with journalists at the Geita Town Council, shortly after a special meeting of police officers from the six regions of the Lake Zone. Mr. Haji attributed the success to the frequent operations carried out by the police and to the strategies implemented to curb abduction and vandalism, which have helped consolidate peace on the lake and improve the fishing industry.
“In past years there were many reported incidents of robbery using a variety of weapons, including traditional ones, to commit crimes on Lake Victoria,” Mr. Haji explained. “Currently, there are only a few reported incidents, although some individuals still engage in criminal activity. As law enforcers, we continue to craft strategies to achieve 100 percent safety for fishermen.”
Chairman of the Tanzania Fishermen’s Association, Mr. Bakari Madaba, confirmed that the security situation on Lake Victoria is improving, with illegal fishing now the only major challenge remaining. “We all have a responsibility to protect public resources. The first beneficiaries of fishery resources are the fishermen themselves. We support the police operations that protect these resources, including educating fishermen,” he said.
Geita District Commissioner, Col. Magembe, also praised the police efforts, noting that abduction incidents on the lake have become rare. “I congratulate the Police Force, especially for agreeing to cooperate with fishermen and other stakeholders in the fishing industry to resolve these challenges,” he said.
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