DAR ES SALAAM, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- Tanzanian Vice President Philip Mpango on Wednesday ordered defense and security agencies to hunt down and arrest dishonest police officials who are colluding with citizens to vandalize the standard gauge railway (SGR) project.
"Some police officials are colluding with citizens to vandalize infrastructure of the SGR project. They must be arrested and prosecuted," said Mpango.
Mpango made the order when he launched the construction of the 165 km Tabora-Isaka SGR at Isaka railway station in the Shinyanga region, northern Tanzania.
Of late, police have arrested scores of people in connection with vandalizing the infrastructure of the SGR project, including stealing fuel, cement and iron bars.
Mpango said the vandals included drivers and machine operators in the project and people living close to the project areas, who are protected by dishonest police officials.
"Vandalizing the project is economic sabotage. This malpractice must be stopped forthwith," said Mpango.
Tanzania has signed agreements with construction companies from various countries, to construct a total of 2,102 km of SGR from the Dar es Salaam port linking with Burundi, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo with a view to making the East African nation a business and transportation hub. ■