CAB129-37 — Page 132

75

Page 132

CHAPTER 3

THE CORPORATION'S FIRST YEAR AND ORGANISATION

PART I: GENERAL OUTLINE OF PROGRESS

47. When the Corporation took control, land-clearing and agricultural operations, and building work had begun in Kongwa, Urambo and Nachingwea. In addition, staff was working in Nairobi, Dar-es-Salaam and at the African Training School at Ifunda.

48. Kongwa (256 miles by rail from Dar-es-Salaam) is in the Central Pro- vince of Tanganyika, long. 36° 35′ E., lat. 6° S., in a 20-25 inches rainfall belt, and is 50 miles from Dodoma, provincial capital, to which it is connected by a spur railway that meets the main central railway at Msagali.

49. Because it was decided by the Managing Agency to make the first main effort at Kongwa, it was a natural consequence that the East African Head- quarters of the Groundnut Scheme and ultimately of the Overseas Food Corporation should be there. Major-General Harrison and his administrative headquarters team exercised supervision over all East African areas from Kongwa.

50. Urambo (590 miles by rail from Dar-es-Salaam) is in the Western Province of Tanganyika, long., 31° 55′ E., lat. 5° S., in a 30-35 inches rainfall belt. Urambo is 60 miles from Tabora, provincial capital, and is on the central railway that runs from Dar-es-Salaam to Lake Tanganyika.

51. Nachingwea (320 miles by road-there is no railway from Dar-es- Salaam) is in the Southern Province of Tanganyika, long. 38° 45′ E., lat. 10° S., in a 30-40 inches rainfall belt. Nachingwea is 100 miles from the nearest port-Lindi, and is 30 miles north of the main Lindi-Masasi road. It has no railway facilities: nor was the port of Lindi capable of handling the Corporation's incoming traffic. Because of this, and pending the con- struction of a harbour and deep water berths at Mtwara, work had started on the construction of a temporary port at Mkwaya, on the Lukeledi river, seven miles from Lindi. Goods passing through this port had, and still have, to be unloaded into lighters or barges at Lindi, and sent up river to Mkwaya.

52. Ifunda (375 miles by road from Dar-es-Salaam) the African Training School centre, is 11 miles from Iringa, in the Southern Highlands, and is contained in a mud-brick and thatched housing settlement (originally erected for Polish refugees).

Land Leases, Etc.

53. The terms for the occupation of land for development tentatively agreed between the Tanganyika Government and the Corporation were awaiting the approval of the Secretary of State for the Colonies on March 31, 1949. The terms briefly were:-

(a) Period: Thirty-three years with the right to apply for renewal for two further periods of thirty-three years after the thirty-third and sixty-sixth years. Compensation to be paid for unexhausted improvements in the event of non-renewal.

12

Page 132

Page 132