3 copters coming to fight poaching

 By  Katare Mbashiru ,The Citizen Reporter

Posted  Thursday, May 15  2014 at  00:00

In Summary

Mr Nyalandu further said the government had received yet another boost from the German government in the war against poaching.

Dodoma. In a move aimed at boosting anti-poaching war, the government is set to purchase four helicopters that will be conduct air patrols in Tanzania’s three major national parks.

Three of the aircraft will intensify patrols in the Selous Game Reserve and Ngorongoro National Park and the other chopper will be used by Tanzania National Parks (Tanapa).

Presenting his budget estimates for 2014/2015 financial year, the Minister for Natural Resources and Tourism, Mr Lazaro Nyalandu, said no stone would be left unturned in a war against wanton killing of the country’s wildlife heritage.

According to him, about Sh4.5 billion would be used in purchasing the new helicopters.

However, he said the money would be obtained from external sources, insisting that President Jakaya Kikwete was doing everything necessary to ensure that Tanzania got assistance from the international community in the war against poaching.

“We have decided to set an air wing unit in my ministry, and this will be responsible in the patrols that will be carried out by commandos who can be able to disembark from a moving helicopter and effect an arrest immediately,’’ he told the Parliament.

According to the minister, a special training would be provided abroad to commandos and pilots starting at the end of this month, who will be assisted by the ground unit that will also be established. The government according to him, will also purchase more than 15 vehicles that will be used by the underground unit.

Mr Nyalandu further said the government had received yet another boost from the German government in the war against poaching.

He said at the end of this month, another chopper would arrive in the country to intensify the fight against poachers.

But the shadow minister for Natural Resources and Tourism the Rev Peter Msigwa attacked the minister for failing to reveal the names of the ‘big fish’ who masterminded poaching in the country.

“When he was in Iringa Region in June 2013, the minister claimed to have a list of officials within the ministry and others from outside the ministry who were behind the poaching syndicate, but as we speak he is yet to make the names public,’’ said the opposition spokesperson.

Villagers could help to curb poaching: UN official says

 By Hakimu Mwafongo ,The Citizen Correspondent

Posted  Thursday, May 15  2014 at  00:00

In Summary

Ms Clark who is a former Prime Minister of New Zealand said community-based initiatives must be given due support to generate incomes for rural communities and diversify incomes through tourism and other service sectors.

Iringa. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) administrator, Ms Hellen Clark, has said community-based natural resource management system could be an appropriate means to eradicate elephant poaching and illegal wildlife trade.

She made the remarks at Ruaha National Park during a visit to see progress made in anti-poaching efforts that are supported by UNDP and the Global Environment Facility (GEF).

The efforts are focused on conserving wildlife and landscape of Tanzania’s southern circuit including Ruaha, Kitulo, Mpanga, Kipengere and mount Rungwe protected areas.

“Everyone in the community including women, youth and the elderly have a role to play in long-term sustainability of their communities as well as wildlife close to protected areas,” she said.

Ms Clark who is a former Prime Minister of New Zealand said community-based initiatives must be given due support to generate incomes for rural communities and diversify incomes through tourism and other service sectors.

She noted that elephant poaching and illegal ivory trade were major concerns in Africa and beyond, with security, economic, political and ecological consequences as crimes increased in frequency and severity. The regional Technical Advisor on Ecosystems and Biodiversity, Mr Paul Harrison, said the project would improve economies of communities around parks.

SPANEST project coordinator Godwell Olle Meing’ataki said through UNDP support the project undertook a census that showed a notable decline in elephant populations.

in the Ruaha-Rungwa ecosystem, falling from 31,625 in 2009 to just 20,090 last year.

The Chief Park Warden of Ruaha National Park, Dr Christopher Timbuka said they were grateful for UNDP support in combating poaching by providing equipment and improving infrastructure.

Tanzania is the country with the largest population of elephants in Africa and is particularly affected by growing crisis. The Ruaha-Ruangwa ecosystem has largest population of 20,090 elephants, according to census done last year.

Anti-poaching campaign now airborne

By Lusekelo Philemon

15th May 2014

  12 vehicles will be manned by well-trained commandos

Tourism and Natural Resources minister Lazaro Nyalandu (R) listens to his predecessor, Ambassador Hamis Kagasheki, at the Bunge grounds in Dodoma on Tuesday.

Three helicopters are to be procured and six pilots trained as well as vehicles to support the airborne surveys with ground logistics will be secured as the government intensifies its anti-poaching campaign.

Addressing the National Assembly yesterday in the nation’s capital, Dodoma, Minister for Natural Resources and Tourism, Lazaro Nyalandu reiterated government’s resolve to addressing the menace that is tarnishing the country’s otherwise pristine image.

Tabling his ministry’s budget estimates for the 2014/2015 fiscal year, the minister said in the next fiscal year, the government in collaboration with Tanzania National Parks (Tanapa) and Ngorongoro Conservation Area Authority (NCAA) is to purchase the three brand new helicopters choppers.

Detailing, Nyalandu described the chopper models to be the Robinson helicopter R44 and the Bell Helicopters.

He said one of the helicopters will conduct airborne surveys in the Selous Game Reserve, another will serve NCAA and the last one will be oversee Tanapa jurisdictions.

“All the three helicopters will only do anti-poaching work and will be accompanied by units of vehicles, for ground logistics,” he said.

He said at least 12 vehicles will be manned by well-trained commandos trained at Pasiansi Wildlife Training Institute (PWTI) and authorised to arrest poachers.

“Using helicopter is the best way to fight poaching in the country…it allows us to cover more ground much faster,” he said noting that the government will also deploy new rangers.

Further he revealed e that the government in collaboration with development partners will introduce a basket fund to support r anti-poaching activities with expected auspicious support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
“All these, will help address wildlife poaching in the country,” the minister said.

On government’s efforts to promote the country’s tourist destinations, the minister said: “We are in the process of re-branding Tanzania, the country market itself worldwide and give opportunity for tourists to understand Tanzania and its tourist destinations.”

“After the re-branding process, the government will produce adverts that will market Tanzania abroad and thereafter be televised in international media streams such as BBC and CCN all year round,” he explained pointing out that the first advertisement will be ready this June and President Jakaya Kikwete is to officially launch it.

Nyalandu said about 1,135,884 tourists visited Tanzania’s tourist destinations in 2013 and brought in US$1.8 billion compared to 1,077,058 tourists in 2012 who brought in US$1.7 billion.

Noting that Tanzania’s tourism sub-sector contributes 17 percent of the country’s GDP, the minister remained optimistic that the number of tourists will be doubled in the next few years.

The minister was keen to point out that there are other partners who have pumped US$5 million to assist Tanzania’s anti-poaching drive.

Part of the money is for the Tanzania Cheetah Conservation Programme and the other will be used to improve training infrastructures at PWTI and building classrooms of accommodating 300 students as well as purchasing GPS systems

 

Msigwa afichua mgongano Maliasili

Na Ashton Balaigwa

15th May 2014

Mchungaji Peter Msigwa

Sakata la vigogo  wa Wizara ya Maliasili na Utalii kudaiwa kufukuzwa kazi na baadaye kurudishwa kinyemela  limetinga bungeni huku kambi  ya Upinzania, ikidai lina mgongano wa kimaslahi kati ya Waziri Lazaro Nyalandu  na Katibu Mkuu Maimuna Tarishi.

Waziri Kivuli wa Wizara hiyo, Mchungaji Peter Msigwa, alisema mgongano huo wa kimaslahi umesababisha maazimio ya Bunge kupuuzwa na serikali.

Msigwa alisema mgongano huo wa kimaslahi unaonyesha kuwa serikali ni dhaifu kwa kuwa Waziri na Katibu Mkuu wa Wizara wanafanya kazi bila kushirikiana huku kila mmoja akionekana kumvizia mwenzake hadharani badala ya kukaa kwa pamoja kutekeleza maazimio ya Bunge katika kuwajibisha watumishi hao.

“Ngoma ikivuma sana hupasuka, tena Mungu siku zote hamfichi mnafiki na debe tupu haliachi kutika, si maneno yangu bali ya Wahenga, si mara ya kwanza kwa Kambi yetu kuhoji juu ya usafi wa Nyalandu na mara kadhaa tumeonyesha kwa kiasi kikubwa udhaifu wake na kutoa vielelezo mbalimbali vinavyotilia shaka utendaji wake kabla na baada ya kukabidhiwa Wizara hii nyeti,” alibainisha.

Alisema Waziri Nyalandu alitangaza kuwavua nyadhifa za Mkurugenzi mkuu wa Wanyamapori Profesa Alexender Songorwa na Mkurugenzi Msaidizi Idara ya Matumizi Endelevu ya Wanyamapori, Profesa Jafari Kideghesho, ikiwa ni utekelezaji wa maazimio ya kamati ya Bunge katika Operesheni Tokomeza.

Hata hivyo, alisema baada ya Waziri Nyalandu kutangaza kuwavua nyadhifa hizo siku chache Katibu  Mkuu Tarishi, aliwarudisha kazini Wakurugenzi hao huku Ikulu ikisema taarifa za kufukuzwa kwao sio sahihi.

CHANZO: NIPASHE