Vessel owner admits TMA storm warning was ignored

“You may find that the weather is not rough only at a certain time...but it stabilises after a while. And the good thing is that Tanzania has no strong tides as compared to neighbouring countries”Azam marine managing director hussein said.PHOTO|FILE 

By Fariji Msonsa ,Citizen Reporter

Posted  Thursday, January 9  2014 at  00:00

In Summary

According to Sumatra’s director of Maritime Safety and Security, Capt King Chiragi, most of the owners of marine vessels are not knowledgeable on weather forecasts and sea conditions.

Dar es Salaam. A day after the state forecaster said it duly gave a warning to seafarers ahead of two marine accidents last weekend, the owner of one of the ill-fated vessels has admitted having ignored the alert.

The Tanzania Meteorological Agency (TMA) told The Citizen on Monday that it cautioned sea users over high waves and tides, information which is normally given for 24 hours through media and at least twice a day through TMA officers at ports.

But yesterday, Azam Marine, the owner of Kilimanjaro II which was hit by waves off Zanzibar’s Nungwi Bay and killed at least five and left 18 others missing, said such warnings are unreliable due to regular weather changes.

The firm’s managing director, Mr Hussein Said, told The Citizen that regular alerts from TMA were not reliable since they were too general and covered over 24 hours while conditions at sea kept changing at least every three hours.

“We get information and alerts from TMA, but since they are for 24 hours...we do not rely much on them,” said Mr Said.

Adding that, “you may find that the weather is not rough only at a certain time...but it stabilises after a while. And the good thing is that Tanzania has no strong tides as compared to neighbouring countries.” However, the fate of marine passengers in the country seems to remain in the hands of captains who receive intensive safety training, according to the Surface and marine Transport Regulatory Authority (Sumatra).

According to Sumatra’s director of Maritime Safety and Security, Capt King Chiragi, most of the owners of marine vessels are not knowledgeable on weather forecasts and sea conditions.

He said it was the captains who have familiarity with meteorological conditions as they are taught thoroughly on the subject. Therefore, it is upon them to decide whether to act on the alerts given by TMA or proceed with their journeys, he added.

“The users of the information given by TMA are the captains, not the owners

Poaching: Govt kicks out 21 officials

By Fariji Msonsa ,Citizen Reporter

Posted  Thursday, January 9  2014 at  00:00

In Summary

Of the 21, said deputy minister, 11 are from anti-poaching team from Arusha, four from Lwafi-Rukwa Forest Reserve, three from Maswa Forest Reserve and two from Selous Game Reserve.

Dar es Salaam. Alarmed by the fast dwindling elephant population that has dropped from an estimated 109,000 in 2009 to around 70,000 in 2012, the government yesterday sacked 21 game warders whom it accuses of colluding with poachers to kill animals.

According to the Tanzania Elephant Protection Society, around 30 elephants are killed for their ivory every day, that is, around 11,000 each year, thanks to the thriving poachers’ network.

It is estimated that the country has lost half its elephant population since 2007 and it is being concluded that this animal could be extinct in just seven years. The move to sack the game warders comes just a few weeks after four Cabinet ministers were forced to resign because of mishandling an anti-poaching operation. Apart from being suspended, the deputy Minister for Tourism and natural resources Mr Lazaro Nyalandu said, the affected workers are now facing legal action for violating the code of conduct by collaborating with poachers.

Speaking in Dar es Salaam yesterday, Mr Nyalandu said the move of the employees comes in the wake of evidence gathered from the ministry’s internal investigations which have proven the involvement of the 21 in fueling poaching in the national parks and game reserves.

“The ministry will not hesitate to take action against any employee involved in retarding government’s efforts to eradicating poaching,” said the deputy minister.

Mr Nyalandu said that some staff in the ministry’s Wildlife Department have been involved in corruption, collaboration with poachers as well as facilitating the crime and hindering the government effort in its anti-poaching drive.

The ministry’s decision to suspend the 21 employees comes after the police force in collaboration with the ministry apprehended Mr Agostino Lori, 42, a game warden who had in his possession of two unlicensed guns and 12 flamingos in his backyard in Singida on Tuesday this week.

Of the 21, said deputy minister, 11 are from anti-poaching team from Arusha, four from Lwafi-Rukwa Forest Reserve, three from Maswa Forest Reserve and two from Selous Game Reserve.

At the same time, due to complexities that are emerging in the war against poaching, the minister said the government was considering the introduction of modern technology to save animal species that are in danger of disappearing.

Last month, a parliamentary select committee tabled an explosive report that led to the sacking of four Cabinet ministers. The report detailed gross human rights abuses by security forces and government officials during Operesheni Tokomeza Ujangili (Operation Eradicate Poaching) that was meant to stamp out the slaughter of elephants.

Mr Khamis Kagasheki (Natural Resources and Tourism), Mr David Mathayo (Livestock and Fisheries), Mr Emmanuel Nchimbi (Home Affairs) and Mr Shamsi Vuai Nahodha (Defence and National Service) were relieved of their duties following fierce debate in Parliament during which MPs from the ruling CCM and the Opposition closed ranks and demanded justice for victims of the operation.

The ministers were accused of failing to oversee the operation, which has since been suspended indefinitely amid claims of abuses, torture, extortion and murder.

But before the dust settled, mounting pressure faced Prime Minister Mizengo to also resign for failing to keep the conduct of ministers under his stewardship in check. Speaking to The Citizen by telephone last month from his Kibaoni home village in Mlele District, Katavi Region, where he was on holiday, on the calls for him to step down, Mr Pinda said he wanted some peace and quiet during the festive season after a tumultuous Parliament sitting, but promised he would discuss his way forward in due cou

Tuhuma za Ujangili Watumishi 21 Maliasili wasimamishwa kazi,

Kwa ufupi

Uamuzi huo ulitangazwa jana na naibu waziri katika wizara hiyo, alipokuwa akizungumza na waandishi wa habari.

Dar es Salaam. Wizara ya Maliasili na Utalii, imewasimamisha kazi watumishi wake 21 kwa tuhuma mbalimbali ikiwa ni pamoja na kusaidia ujangili wa nyara za Serikali.

Hatua hiyo imekuja siku moja baada ya Polisi mkoani Singida, kumkamata ofisa wanyamapori katika Halmashauri ya Wilaya ya Singida, kwa tuhuma za kupatikana na silaha mbili na nyara za Serikali, kinyume cha sheria.

Akitangaza hatua hiyo jana jijini Dar es Salaam, Naibu Waziri wa Maliasili na Utalii, Lazaro Nyalandu, alisema Serikali inasikitishwa na vitendo viovu vinavyofanywa na watumishi wake na haitavivumilia. “Tumesikitishwa na kitendo cha ofisa wanyamapori wilayani Singida kukamatwa na bunduki mbili na ndege aina ya Heroe 12 nyumbani kwake, hatua tuliyochukua ni kumsimamisha kazi na kufikishwa mahakamani,” alisema na kuongeza:

“Wizara baada ya kufanya uchunguzi, imegundua kuwa kuna watumishi wanaoshirikiana na mtandao wa ujangili, hivyo imewasimamisha kazi watumishi 21 wa Idara ya Wanyamapori na tutachukua hatua zaidi.”

Alisema kati ya watumishi hao, 11 wanatoka katika Kikosi cha Kuzuia Ujangili mkoani Arusha, wanne wanatoka Mkoa wa Rukwa katika Pori la Akiba la Lwafu, mmoja Kikosi cha Bunda, watatu Pori la Akiba la Maswa, mmoja Selous, na mwingine mapori ya Lupika, Lumesule na Lusangu.

Akifafanua kuhusu uhaba wa watumishi katika Idara ya Wanyamapori, Nyalandu alisema kwa zaidi ya miaka 10 wizara hiyo haikuwa ikiajiri watumishi hali inayosababisha kukosa watumishi wenye ujuzi.

“Tunajipanga kuajiri watumishi wengine wenye ujuzi na kuangalia maendeleo ya teknolojia hasa kwa kujifunza kwa wenzetu Afrika Kusini,” alisema.

Kuhusu Operesheni Tokomeza Ujangili, alisema Serikali imeunda tume ya kimahakama itakayowahoji askari waliohusika na kurudisha taarifa. Hata hivyo alisema wako mbioni kuendelea nayo.

“Rais Jakaya Kikwete ameunda tume ya kimahakama na itatoa taarifa, ila sisi hatutalala, tutahakikisha kuwa tunapambana na ujangili ili kulinda nyara za Taifa,” alisema Nyalandu.

Amewataka wananchi kutoa ushirikiano kwa wizara yake kwa kutoa taarifa zitakazowezesha kuwakamata wahalifu.

“Jitihada hizi siyo zetu wenyewe, tunashirikiana na vyombo vya ulinzi na usalama. Tunawaomba wananchi washirikiane kulinda na kutoa taariza zitakazowezesha kukamatwa kwa wahalifu. Tunawaomba watumishi wetu wafanye kazi kwa moyo na uaminifu,” alisema Nyalandu.

Mamlaka ya wanyamapori

Akiwa katika pori la akiba la Selous hivi karibuni, Nyalandu alieleza mkakati wa Serikali wa kuanzisha mamlaka ya wanyamapori ili kuwapa mamlaka watendaji wa sekta hiyo katika kutunza maliasili.

Mwaka 2013; uliacha ‘vilio’ kwa tembo

Baadhi ya matukio yaliyowahi kuripotiwa ni pamoja na baadhi ya watumiaji silaha katika sekta ya ulinzi na usalama nchini wakiwamo askari huzikodisha silaha zao kwa ajili ya kutumika katika matukio ya uhalifu.Aidha, kuwepo kwa mianya ya uingizaji wa silaha nchini kwa njia haramu kutokana na udhaifu uliopo katika mipaka mipaka ya DR Kongo, Burundi, Rwanda na hata Zambia jambo ambalo ni hatari.    

Posted  Januari4  2014  saa 11:7 AM

Kwa ufupi

• Mauaji sasa yamefikia tembo 10,950 kwa mwaka 2013, ni dhahiri bila juhudi za kutokomeza ujangili... tutafika mwaka 2020 tukiwa hatuna akiba ya tembo.

Dar es Salaam. Kama Tembo wa Tanzania wangeulizwa kuna jambo gani kubwa hawatalisahau kwa mwaka 2013, bila shaka jibu lingekuwa: “Tuliwindwa, tukauawa sisi na watoto wetu na bado tuna hofu.”

Ingawa tembo ni mnyama mbabe awapo porini, lakini uwezo wake wa kujilinda yeye na jamii yake ulipunguzwa nguvu kwa kiwango kikubwa mwaka 2013, baada ya mauaji ya hazina hiyo ya taifa kuongezeka kwa kiasi kikubwa hata kuisukuma Serikali kuanzisha Operesheni Tokomeza Ujangili.

Utekelezaji wa operesheni hiyo ambao ulilenga kuzuia uwindaji haramu wa wanyama hao na wengine walio katika mbuga na hifadhi za taifa huku taarifa zikionyesha kuwa shehena kubwa ya pembe za ndovu ambayo imekuwa ikikamatwa ndani na nje ya nchi. Ripoti ya operesheni hiyo, ilileta athari kubwa kwa wananchi na mifugo hatua iliyomlazimu Rais Jakaya Kikwete kutengua uteuzi wa mawaziri wanne waliokuwa wakiisimamia wizara zilizotajwa kuzembea katika kusimamia Opereesheni Tokomeza Ujangili.

Mawaziri hao ni pamoja na aliyekuwa Waziri wa Maliasili na Utalii, Khamis Kagasheki, Waziri wa Mifugo na Maendeleo ya Uvuvi, Dk Mathayo David Mathayo, Waziri wa Mambo ya Ndani ya Nchi, Dk Emmanuel Nchimbi na Waziri wa Ulinzi na Jeshi la Kujenga Taifa, Shamsi Vuai Nahodha.

Hata hivyo, akizungumza katika salamu zake za Mwaka Mpya, Rais Kikwete alisema: “Tunakamilisha matayarisho ya kuanza awamu ya pili ya Operesheni Tokomeza. Ni muhimu kuendelea nayo kwani tusipofanya hivyo majangili wataendelea na vitendo vyao viovu.

Kutokana na kukithiri kwa matukio ya ujangili nchini, Mkataba wa Biashara ya Kimataifa kwa Viumbe vilivyo Hatarini (CITES), uliitaja Tanzania kuwa ni miongoni mwa nchi nane duniani zinazoongoza kwa kufanya biashara ya pembe za ndovu.

Matukio yaliyotikisa

Polisi mjini Zanzibar hawataisahau Novemba 15, 2013, siku waliyopigwa na butwaa baada ya kukamata shehena kubwa ya pembe za ndovu katika Bandari ya Malindi, zikiwa na thamani ya Sh7.4 bilioni.

 Awali mzigo huo ulikuwa umehifadhiwa katika Mtaa wa Darajabovu, mkoa wa Mjini Magharibi, kabla ya kusafirishwa hadi Malindi.

Kamishna wa Polisi Zanzibar, Mussa Ali Mussa alisema kuwa baada ya kukamilika kwa kazi ya kupakua na kuhesabu pembe hizo, walibaini kuwa vilikuwa vipande 1,021 vikiwa na uzito wa kilo 2,915.

Tukio jingine la kufunga mwaka ni lile lililotokea jijini Dar es Salaam, ambalo lilisimamiwa na aliyekuwa Waziri wa Maliasili na Utalii, Khamis Kagasheki na Katibu Mkuu wa wizara hiyo, Tarish Maimuna ambapo pembe za ndovu 706 zilikamatwa.

Katika tukio hilo, ambalo lilithibitisha kuuawa kwa tembo 353, raia watatu wa China wakazi wa Mtaa wa Kifaru, Mikocheni, wilayani Kinondoni, walikutwa wakiwa wamehifadhi shehena hiyo nyumbani kwao. Watuhumiwa hao ni Xu Fujie, Chen Jinzha na Huang Qin wote kutoka mji wa Guandung.

1Baada ya polisi kuongeza nguvu ya kukamata pembe za ndovu, wasafirishaji waliibuka na mbinu mpya. Agosti 16, 2013 Polisi wa Uwanja wa Ndege wa Mwalimu Julius Nyerere jijini Dar es Salaam, walimkamata raia wa Vietnam akiwa na pembe za ndovu yenye thamani ya Sh18.4 milioni zilizotengenezwa kama bangili tayari kusafirisha kwenda nje ya nchi.
Pia, haitasahaulika siku polisi jijini Dar es Salaam walipomkamata mkazi wa Mwananyamala, waliyemtilia shaka kisha kumpekuwa na kumkuta akiwa na vipande 16 vya pembe za ndovu  vyenye uzito wa kilo 24.5.
Akizungumzia tukio hilo, Kamishina wa Polisi Kanda Maalumu Dar es Salaam, Suleiman Kova alisema kuwa mtuhumiwa alinaswa na Polisi saa 9 alasiri maeneo ya Msimbazi Center, Wilayani Kinondoni.
Wafanyabiashara wengine walikamatwa nchi jirani wakijaribu kupeleka pembe hizo katika masoko barani Asia, hata hivyo walikamatwa kabla hawajatimiza malengo yao.
Januari mwaka huu, Gazeti La Daily Mail la Uingereza liliripoti kwamba Serikali ya Kenya imekamata shehena ya vipande 638 vya pembe za ndovu ambavyo ni sawa tembo 320 waliouawa.
Mzigo huo wa tani mbili ulikuwa kwenye kontena la mawe ya urembo (marumaru) kutoka Tanzania.
Huko Ruvuma, Polisi walifanikiwa kumtia mikononi dereva wa Halmashauri ya Wilaya ya Namtumbo, akisafirisha vipande 16 vya pembe za ndovu vyenye uzito wa kilo 18 ambavyo zilikuwa na thamani ya Sh48, 000 milioni.
Akisoma hotuba ya Kambi ya Upinzani Bungeni ya mwaka 2013/14, Waziri Kivuli wa Maliasili na Utalii, Mchungaji Peter Msigwa alisema pembe za ndovu zenye uzito wa tani 4 kutoka nchini Tanzania na Kenya zimeripotiwa kukamatwa na vyombo vya usalama vya mamlaka ya Jiji la Hong Kong, huku zile zilizoibwa kutoka Tanzania zikiwa na thamani ya zaidi ya Sh2.5 bilioni.
“Pembe za ndovu zilizokamatwa Wilaya ya Biharamulo… zikiwa  kwenye gari iliyosemeka  ya Serikali maeneo ya Mto wa Mbu; watu watatu waliokamatwa Masasi wakisafirisha; haya ni matukio machache tu ambayo yaliweza kuripotiwa na Jeshi la Polisi yanayotoa taswira ya tatizo kubwa la ujangili hapa nchini,” alisema Msigwa.
Msigwa aliongeza kuwa iwapo Tanzania itaendelea na kasi iliyopo ya kuuwa tembo, miaka saba ijayo nchi hiyo itakuwa na historia ya kuwa na akiba ya wanyama hao.
“Ikiwa tafiti za mwenendo wa mauaji ya tembo zikionyesha kukua na kuashiria kwamba mauaji sasa yamefikia temboa 10,950 kwa mwaka huu wa 2013, ni dhahiri bila juhudi za kutokomeza ujangili tutafika mwaka 2020 tukiwa hatuna akiba ya tembo tena,” aliongeza.
Akizungumza na Redio Umoja wa Mataifa, Septemba 2013, Kagasheki alinukuliwa akisema kuwa ongezeko la bei ya pembe za ndovu, umasikini wa wananchi na tamaa ya baadhi ya watu zimechochea kwa kiasi kikubwa ongezeko la ujangili nchini.
Imeandaliwa na Goodluck Eliona

Shehena ya meno ya tembo yanaswa Dar

Shehena ya meno ya tembo 

Na Mwandishi wetu

3rd January 2014

Shehena ya meno ya tembo ambayo bado haijajulikana idadi wala uzito wake, imekamatwa na maofisa wa Maliasili kwenye Bandari ya Dar es Salaam ikiwa ndani ya kontena.

Hata hivyo, waandishi wa habari ambao walifuatana na Kaimu Afisa Habari wa Wizara ya Maliasili na Utalii Tabu Nziku, jana kwenye Bandari hiyo ili wakashuhudie kukamatwa kwa meno hayo walizuiliwa kwa muda wa saa mbili na walinzi wa Suma JKT kwa sababu ambazo hazijajulikana.

Licha ya kujitambulisha kuwa ni waandishi wa habari kutoka vyombo mbalimbali vya habari, maafisa hao waliwazuia kufanya kazi yao, jambo lililozusha mjadala na mabishano kwa muda mrefu pamoja na kuwepo kwa maofisa kutoka Wizara ya Maliasili na Utalii.

Huku mabishano hayo yakiendelea walinzi hao walikuwa wanashinikiza waandishi wa habari watolewe nje, pamoja na kuwa wakati huo walikwishaingia ndani, na kugoma katakata kuwaonyesha kontena hilo.

Kaimu Mrugenzi Mkuu wa Mamlaka ya Bandari Tanzania (TPA), Madeni Kipande, alithibitisha kuwapo kwa kontena hilo lenye meno ya tembo, lakini alisema yeye hana uwezo wa kulizungumzia suala hilo bali wenye mamlaka hiyo ni Naibu Waziri pamoja na Katibu Mkuu wa Wizara.

Aliongeza kuwa kwa sasa anafanya mawasiliano na ngazi hizo za juu na atakapokuwa tayari atamjulisha Afisa Habari ili awaite waandishi kwa ajili ya kulizumgumzia suala hilo.

Naibu Waziri wa Maliasili na Utalii, Lazaro Nyarandu, alisema amezipata taarifa hizo, lakini kwa muda huo alikuwa njiani akitokea Maswa na kwamba wizara inaandaa taarifa rasmi ili kulizungumzia jambo hilo ambayo itasambazwa kwenye vyombo vya habari.

Hata NIPASHE ilipomtafuta Kamanada wa Polisi Kanda Maalumu ya Dar es Salaam, Kamishna Suleiman Kova, simu yake ya mkononi ilipokelewa na msaidizi wake ambaye alisema kuwa Kamishna Kova alikuwa katika kikao.

Matukio ya kuuawa kwa tembo yamekithiri nchini na hivi karibuni, Rais Jakaya Kikwete alisema kuwa sensa ya ndovu katika Pori la Hifadhi ya Selous imekamilika, lakini taarifa yake inatisha kwani kuna ndovu 13,084 tu wakati mwaka 1976 walikuwepo tembo 109,419.

Aliongeza kuwa watu 1,030 walikamatwa pamoja na silaha za kijeshi 18, za kiraia 1579, na shehena kubwa za meno ya tembo na nyara nyingine navyo vilikamatwa, na watu kadhaa wameshafikishwa mahakamani na kwamba awamu ya pili ya Operesheni Tokomeza Ujangili itaanza.

CHANZO: NIPASHE

Habari Zaidi

 

Askari wa wanyamapori auawa na wafugaji

Na Ashton Balaigwa

3rd January 2014

Askari wa wanyamapori wa hifadhi ya mbuga ya Jukumu iliyoko katika Wilaya ya Morogoro, ameuawa kikatili na wengine kujeruhia baada ya kuvamiwa na kundi la wafugaji jamii ya Kisukuma.

 Baadhi ya askari waliojeruhiwa, Yahaya Ramadhani na Khalphan Shabani, walisema tukio hilo lilitokea juzi wakati askari hao wakiwa katika doria nyakati za usiku katika mbuga hiyo.

 Kwa upande wake, Shabani alisema kuwa wakati wakiwa katika doria hiyo, ghafla  walivamiwa na kundi la wafugaji wa jamii ya Kisukuma na kuanza kushambuliwa kwa silaha za aina mbalimbali ikiwamo mikuki na marungu na kusababisha kifo cha askari mwenzao.

Alimtaja askari aliyefariki dunia baada ya kuchomwa mkuki kuwa ni Ramadhani Magengere, ambapo askari watatu walijeruhiwa.

Kwa mujibu wa Shabani, hilo ni tukio la tatu kutokea katika mbuga hiyo.
Hata hivyo, askari huyo wa wanyamapori, alilishutumu Jeshi la Polisi mkoani Morogoro kwa kushindwa kutoa ushirikiano kuhusiana na mauaji hayo licha ya kutolewa taarifa.

 Ofisa Maliasili Mkoa wa Morogoro, Joseph Chuwa, alithibitisha kutokea kwa tukio hilo.

Chuwa alisema hilo ni tukio la sita kwa askari wa wanyamapori kujeruhiwa hadi kusababisha kifo huku Jeshi la Polisi kutokutoa uzito wa matukio hayo licha ya kupewa taarifa.

 Kamanda wa Polisi mkoani Morogoro, Faustine Shilogile, pia alithibitisha kutokea kwa tukio hilo na kueleza kwamba uchunguzi unaendelea wa kuwatafuta wahusika.
Hata hivyo, Kamanda Shilogile aliwataka wananchi kutoa ushirikiano ili kupatikana kwa wahusika hao.

Wakati huo huo, mtu mmoja amefariki dunia na wengine 15 kujeruhiwa baada ya basi la kampuni ya Taqwa kupinduka katika eneo la Mikumi barabara ya kuu ya Iringa - Morogoro.

Basi hilo lilikuwa likitoka Harare nchini Zimbabwe kwenda jijini Dar es Salaam.
Kamanda Shilogile alisema chanzo cha ajali hiyo ni baada ya dereva wa basi kujaribu kulipita lori aina ya Scania lililokuwa mbele yake bila kuchukua tahadhari.

Alimtaja aliyefariki dunia katika ajali hiyo kuwa ni Tabu Khemed.
Aidha, Kamanda Shilogile alisema majeruhi wa ajali hiyo wanaendelea na matibabu katika Hospitali ya St. Kizzito ya mjini Mikumi.  

CHANZO: NIPASHE

 

Container full of elephant tusks seized in Dar

By David Kisanga

3rd January 2014

Lazaro Nyalandu, Natural Resources and Tourism Deputy Minister

Only two days after President Jakaya Kikwete announced the imminent relaunch of Operation Tokomeza, customs officials at the Dar es Salaam Port seized a container of ivory tusks reportedly being shipped to China. It was not immediately established how many tusks were in the container or their value.

Natural Resources and Tourism Deputy Minister Lazaro Nyalandu confirmed the seizure of the haul but could not give further details.

The deputy Minister said that the ministry was examining the haul after which it would issue a statement.

Reports obtained at the Port yesterday said that the container arrived at the port on Wednesday escorted by people believed to be police officers.

Sources who preferred not to be mentioned told The Guardian that the container was set to be shipped to China.

Efforts to get responses from the police were unsuccessful as our reporter was informed that they were in a meeting.

Tanzania Ports Authority (TPA) Acting Director General Madeni Kipande told reporters at the scene that the container was seized late on Wednesday evening.
He said the move followed tips from impeccable sources over illegal transportation of ivory tusks.

“We impounded the tusks in a container that was to be shipped. However I am not on a position to give details,” Kipande, said urging reporters to seek clarification from the Minister.

Last Week, the Deputy Minister Nyalandu told a press conference that at least 60 elephants had been killed in various national parks and game reserves within the country after the suspension of Operation Tokomeza, aimed at fighting poachers and those behind the ivory trade.

The operation was suspended and four cabinet ministers forced to resign after a parliamentary report exposed abuse of human rights and the country’s mother law by the implementers.

President Jakaya Kikwete in his last month’s address, announced that the operation would be re-launched to safeguard wildlife, still threatened by poachers.

In a related move in November last year, anti-smuggling unit, the police and Tanzania Intelligence Services impounded tusks weighing 2,915 kilogrammes with a street value of $4.7million (over 7.48bn/-) at Malindi Port in Zanzibar, packed in 50-kilogramme plastic bags.

In order to cover up the haul, the suspects packed sea shells in some plastic bags before placing them at the entry point of a container. 

SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN

More News