MIRAA, VEVE, KHAT OR GOMBA,

Miraa is a mild stimulant herb grown in three places in the World, Somali, Ethiopia, Yemen, South Africa and Kenya. Miraa is legally grown in Kenya and it grows in three regions, Kerio Valley in the Rift Valley Province, Embu and Nyambene hills. The best quality of miraa comes from Nyambene hills. Miraa is highly perishable and consumption of the product must take place at least 96 hours or 4 days after it is picked form the tree. UK has not banned the importation of Miraa basing on reports of research, including those made by the World Health Organisation, the National Council for Science and Technology as well as scientists in Egypt and Britain, all of whom concluded that the effect of miraa was too mild to warrant a ban. The researchers were also said to have drawn the conclusion from the fact that the Meru had chewed the drug through the ages, but had not reported any serious health problems.

The two ministries and that of Foreign Affairs also noted that, under the World Trade Organisation rules, no country could ban a fresh produce without giving scientific proof of the harm it can do.
Miraa is illegal in Tanzania, US, Canada, Sweden, Norway, and Eritrea over health concerns. Regardless of the fact that miraa has been banned in Tanzania there is an overwhelming inflow of merchandize. Arusha and Moshi people have been notorious in defying the government orders particularly when it comes to consumption of miraa. Dar es salaam is another place where miraa is abundantly being consumed.

Now that there are efforts by the East African leaders to revive the East African Community and given the fact that Kenya earns a significant portion of its foreign exchange by exporting Miraa, do you think that Tanzania should uplift the ban.