Air Tanzania plane seized in Canada over US$33 million compensation claim

* The Bombardier Q400 aircraft was impounded over a land
compensation dispute dating back to the 1980s
* The foreign minister said he summoned the Canadian ambassador and
told him that Tanzania is not happy

An aeroplane being delivered to Tanzania’s national airline has
been impounded in Canada over a Namibian-born farmer’s US$33
million compensation claim, Tanzania’s foreign minister said on
Saturday.

The DHC Dash 8-400 aircraft, a turboprop also known as the
Bombardier Q400, which seats up to 90 people, is the second to be
seized in connection with case.

In August, an Airbus 220-300 aircraft was seized in South
Africa’s Johannesburg airport, after it landed on a flight from
Tanzania, but was released in September.

“The same person who went to court in South Africa, and caused
the impounding of Airbus in August, went to a Canadian court,”
Tanzania’s Foreign Minister Palamagamba Kabudi.

The plane, built by Canada’s De Havilland company, was due for
delivery as part of a fleet expansion of the government-run Air
Tanzania.

“We won in a case with this man in South Africa,” Kabudi
added.

“I wonder why this person has emerged in Canada – but our
lawyers are getting ready.”

He did not give details of how or where the plane was
seized.

“I summoned the Canadian ambassador to Tanzania and clearly told
him that Tanzania is not happy – and we are actually angry,” Kabudi
said.

In 2017, in a separate case, another Q400 turboprop plane was
impounded by a Canadian construction firm over a US$38 million
lawsuit.

That plane was later released, reportedly after a financial
settlement.

“Canada should also know that it is not the only manufacturer of
planes in the world,” Kabudi added.

This seizure related to a case dating back to the 1980s, when
Tanzania’s government nationalised a massive, privately-owned bean
and seed farm, seizing everything including equipment, 250 cars and
12 small planes.

The owner, who is now 86, was awarded US$33 million in
compensation in the 1990s – but the government only paid US$20
million.

The outstanding balance of US$13 million has accrued interest
over the decades and now stands at US$33 million, according to his
lawyer.

The farmer has been fighting for decades to get the outstanding
amount.