BY THE ARUSHA NEWS REPORTER
The newly appointed Arusha District Commissioner (DC), Mr Nicodemus Tambo, has pledged to fight street crime, housebreak-ins and water meter theft, warning offenders to find lawful work or face the long arm of the law.
Addressing residents of Sakina suburb recently, Mr Tambo said safety was a public priority and that authorities were aware of criminal activities troubling several neighbourhoods.
“We shall arrest offenders and conduct swoops to ensure Arusha residents can move around peacefully and safely at all times,” said the DC. Mr Tambo further named Muriet, Daraja Mbili, Sinoni, Ngarenaro, Moshono and the city centre as areas with serious security concerns.
For Ngarenaro, he singled out motorcycle borne offenders known as “Tatu Mzuka”. He also highlighted water meter theft in Moshono and pickipocketing in the city centre, describing how residents could lose their wallets without immediately noticing.
His message to young people involved in crime was blunt: “Theft is not employment. Find something else to do,” he explained, calling on parents to speak to their children and help discourage criminal behaviour.
Mr Tambo, who chairs the district security committee, also warned against vandalising street-lights and stripping public infrastructure for scrap metal. He said lighting improvements were part of efforts to make neighbourhoods safer.
Turning to development projects, he announced follow-up on unfinished government-funded works and said contractors who had received payment would have to explain why their projects remained stalled.
“You have been paid but you have not delivered your part of the deal. You must have a very good reason to explain why,” he said. He also called for drainage channels to be cleared and damaged electric poles replaced, while urging residents to stop dumping waste in sewerage drains.
