(1888PressRelease)
April 29, 2008 - On 27th February 2008, Benjamin Mengi, brother of IPP Media owner and Chief Executive Officer Reginald Mengi, was arrested by the Moshi police for theft and given police bail (investigation number MOS/IR/2344/08, MOS/RB/2944/08).
The arrest follows his admission that he broke into the house of investors Stewart Middleton and Sarah Hermitage on Silverdale Farm in Moshi, in the Kilimanjaro area of Tanzania, during the month of February. Witnesses state they saw Mengi with his staff member Urasa, cut the lock to the grounds of the investor’s house and then forcibly enter the rear door to the kitchen. Witnesses further state they saw Mengi with Urasa and several unknown Askaris remove items of the investor’s property including their personal computer, a cooker, printer and various household items and place them in his personal vehicle and remove them from the farm.
Mengi admitted the theft to the police and has boasted to the investors that he has accessed all the personal date to the computer and has attended State House to make the information available to President Kikwete.
Despite four witnesses statements provided to the police and, an admission from Mengi himself, the Moshi police state they cannot charge him because they have not recovered the property.
Investor Stewart Middleton, whose company Songwe Estates Ltd is the lawful owner of the forty five year lease to Silverdale & Mbono Farms, has temporarily left the country due to persistent abuse by the police, judiciary and government agencies in Moshi together with threats to his life and the lives of his staff.
http://www.theyworkforyou.com/whall/?id=2008-02-27a.272.0&m=1873
On or around the 14th February 2008, three days after Mr. Middleton’s temporary absence from Tanzania, Mengi broke the lock to the farms, evicted the investors staff and took unlawful possession of the farms stating he was the owner. Mengi brought tractors to the farm and ploughed one hundred acres which he subsequently sub-let to local villagers declaring himself the owner of the lease.
Mengi’s company Fiona Tanzania Ltd sold the lease to the farms to Silverdale Tanzania Ltd in May 2004. Mengi was originally a director of Silverdale Tanzania and a 30% shareholder. Mengi was subsequently removed as a director of Silverdale Tanzania Ltd and his share holding was liquidated to one share with the British Investor holding 149 shares. Mengi chose not to purchase the share options offered to him when the company’s shareholding was increased. He was removed as a director in 2004 in compliance with the laws of Tanzania. The lease was subsequently sold to Songwe Estates Ltd, a company owned by the investor in which Mengi has no interest.
The removal of Mengi as a director and the sale of the lease to Songwe Estates are registered with Companies House in Dar es Salaam.
Since August 2005, Benjamin Mengi together with his wife Millie Mengi have brought fourteen civil cases against the investors and their staff one of which claims that the sale from Fiona Tanzania Ltd to Silverdale Tanzania Ltd be declared void. Despite this, Mengi claims he has a right to occupy the farms claiming to be a director of Silverdale Tanzania under the assignment, which he is asking the High Court to void.
Silverdale & Mbono Farms remain unlawfully occupied by Mengi with the use of Zimbabwe style abuse facilitated by the police and the judiciary. Trees are being felled and buildings wantonly destroyed on the instructions of Mengi by Narumo Village Chairman Menace who has no association with the farms. The Regional and District Commissioners have failed to act to stop the criminal trespass and destruction.
For the past four years, the Tanzania government has failed to address the situation and apply the rule of law to Mengi’s criminal conduct. Seemingly, the Mengi name is placed above the rule of law in Tanzania together with the interests of the country and all honest Tanzanians.
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