Friday, January 31, 2014

Buffalo gores, kills hunter in dramatic turn of events



By Anthony Mayunga ,The Citizen Correspondent

Posted  Friday, January 31  2014 at  00:00
In Summary
“We all believed the beast was dead and we were happy with the catch, before it surprised us with the attack on our colleague,” explained one of the eyewitnesses who, however, preferred anonymity.
Serengeti. Miseke Village resident, suspected to be a poacher, died after a trapped buffalo at Ikorongo Reserve broke loose and gored him.
It is the second similar incident in 18 months as in 2012 another resident was rammed to death by a buffalo bull he had trapped near Nyaburekari River.
The village’s executive officer, Mr Yohane Sentehu, named the victim as Emanuel Mustafa Msikanguru, 30, who was critically wounded after the attack and died on the way to Nyerere DDH Hospital.
However, there were conflicting reports on his death as some of his close relatives claimed he was attacked while cutting trees in the reserve, while others claimed he met his sudden demise while taking his cattle back home.
But reliable sources told The Citizen that the deceased and three others were tracking a buffalo which they later found caught in one of their traps.
The bull lay still when they cautiously approached the area where it was trapped. Catching them unawares, the bull sprang at the deceased and tossed him in the air, inflicting serious wounds on his body.
“We all believed the beast was dead and we were happy with the catch, before it surprised us with the attack on our colleague,” explained one of the eyewitnesses who, however, preferred anonymity.
Eyewitnesses claimed the buffalo disappeared shortly after the attack.
The ward’s councilor, Mr Marko Shaweshi, told The Citizen that the deceased could have survived had he received treatment timely.
“It took him long to get assistance, a situation that might have led to his death as the bull had pierced his thigh causing him to bleed profusely,” explained the councilor.

Thursday, January 30, 2014

Tanzania-Saudi youths write to President Kikwete and King Abdulaziz

 1.            Director General of TANAPA Allan Kijazi  who hosted the forum in his welcoming remarks.

  Minister for Natural Resources and Tourism Hon. Lazaro Nyalandu (second right) presenting a souvenior photo of the Wildbeest Migration in the Serengeti National Park to the Saudi-Arabian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs for Economics and Cultural Affairs, Dr Yousef Al-Sadoon
 Minister for Natural Resources and Tourism Hon. Lazaro Nyalandu (second right) receiving a souvenior from the Saudi-Arabian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs for Economics and Cultural Affairs, Dr Yousef Al-Sadoon. Looking on from left are Director of Tourism and Marketing of TANAPA Ibrahim Mussa and Director General of TANAPA Allan Kijazi
 Youths from Tanzania and Saudi Arabia presenting their letters on biodiversity conservation during the closing ceremony

1.            Minister for Natural Resources and Tourism Hon. Lazaro Nyalandu in a group photo with the participants of the just ended Tanzania Saudi Youth DialogueForum.


Tanzania-Saudi Youth Dialogue Forum participants have agreed to deliver special messages on issues of biodiversity conservation to both the President of the United Republic of Tanzania H.E Jakaya Kikwete and King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud of Saudi Arabia.
This was said recently during the closing ceremony of the Tanzania-Saudi Youth Forum, which was officiated by the Tanzanian Minister for Natural Resources and Tourism Honorable Lazaro Nyalandu.
The letters from Bilateral Youth Group was read during the closing ceremony by Ms Rayan Hejles-Fir from Saudi Arabia and her Tanzanian counterpart, Hans Cosmas-Ngoteya, while another dispatch from the ‘Multilateral Youth Group was read by Ms Zainab Abdallah from Tanzania and Ms Haifa Al Bassam from Saudia.
The first ever two-state Youth Dialogue Forum on matters of biodiversity was hosted by the Tanzania National Parks (TANAPA) under the main theme of "Construction and implementation of the regulatory framework for biodiversity conservation."
“The youth also toured Arusha, Tarangire and Serengeti National Parks, the Ngorongoro Conservation Area Authority, the Tanzania Wildlife Research Institute and Mweka College of Wildlife, enjoying the opportunity of interacting and discussing the future of biodiversity conservation in the two countries,’’ stated Allan Kijazi, the Director General for TANAPA.
Kijazi lauded Saudi-Arabia for selecting Tanzania to be the first country in hosting the forum assuring that positive outcomes should be expected from the dialogues, adding that TANAPA intends to organize similar dialogues with other countries in future.
Kijazi said TANAPA being the custodian of the country's 16 National Parks, felt proud to host the international dialogue and used the occasion to request the Saudi government to assist Tanzania in the war against poaching. 
The Minister for Natural resources and Tourism Mr Lazaro Nyalandu said the Saudi team which also placed high priority on religion and spiritual development of the mind, must have felt at home in the well-conserved parts of Tanzania maintaining their original profiles since creation.
The Saudi Princess Haifa Bint Abdul Aziz who visited the country last month and happens to be the coordinator of the forum, said the forum was taking place for the first time in Africa and Tanzania was chosen to host it due to its historical background and commitment to protecting wildlife and natural resources supported by peace and security prevailing in the country.

The youth forum is an initiative by King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz for dialogue among forums worldwide under the Saudi International Youth Dialogue Forums programme.

The forums provide a platform for Saudi youth to interact with their peers from different countries, while adopting their creative initiatives and solutions under various themes.




Wednesday, January 29, 2014

Chinese ivory smuggler gets record sentence



Posted  Wednesday, January 29  2014 at  11:49
In Summary
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  • A spokesman for the Kenya Wildlife Service, which manages the country’s celebrated national parks, welcomed the verdict
Nairobi, Tuesday. A court in Kenya today slapped a record sentence on a Chinese ivory smuggler, the first person to be convicted under tough new laws designed to stem a surge in poaching.
Tang Yong Jian, 40, was ordered to pay 20 million shillings, about 170,500 euros, 233,000 dollars, or else go to jail for seven years. He was arrested last week carrying an ivory tusk weighing 3.4 kilogrammes in a suitcase while in transit from Mozambique to China via Nairobi.
A spokesman for the Kenya Wildlife Service, which manages the country’s celebrated national parks, welcomed the verdict.
“It’s a landmark ruling that sets a precedent for those involved in smuggling,” Paul Udoto told AFP, saying stricter sentences will make the “killing of wildlife a high cost business”.
“It’s a remarkable precedent,” he said, explaining that the fact that smugglers were previously punished with “a slap on the wrist” was demoralising for park rangers.
“It’s very motivating for our rangers” to see poachers “lose a lot of money and spend long terms in Kenyan prisons,” he said.
Kenya is a key transit point for ivory smuggled from across the region.
Poaching has risen sharply in Africa in recent years, with rhinos and elephants particularly hard-hit.
Under the new law, which came into force a month ago, dealing in wildlife trophies carries a minimum fine of a million shillings or a minimum jail sentence of five years, or both.
The most serious wildlife crimes -- the killing of endangered animals -- now carry penalties of life imprisonment, as well as fines of up to 20 million Kenyan shillings.
Previously, punishment for the most serious wildlife crimes was capped at a maximum fine of 40,000 Kenyan shillings, about 340 euros, 465 dollars, and a possible jail term of up to 10 years.
Some smugglers caught in Kenya with a haul of ivory were even fined less than a dollar apiece. (AFP)





Courts handle 516 ‘Tokomeza’ cases


By Rosina John ,The Citizen Correspondent

Posted  Wednesday, January 29  2014 at  00:00
In Summary
The CJ said six resident magistrate’s courts and 19 district courts heard the cases brought under various laws, including the Economic Crime Act, Wildlife Conservation Act and National Parks Act.
Dar es Salaam. There were a total of 516 court cases related to Operesheni Tokomeza during the anti-poaching campaign, Chief Justice Chande Othman Chande said yesterday.
Mr Justice Chande told journalists that of the cases filed between October 4 to November 1, last year, 198 were heard and determined, which is equivalent to 38.37 per cent.
He was briefing the media on Law Day to be marked on February 3 under the theme Utendaji Haki kwa Wakati; Umuhimu wa Ushiriki wa Wadau. (timely delivery of justice; the importance of stakeholders’ participation).
The CJ said six resident magistrate’s courts and 19 district courts heard the cases brought under various laws, including the Economic Crime Act, Wildlife Conservation Act and National Parks Act. Operesheni Tokomeza was suspended after a parliamentary select committee tabled a report detailing widespread human rights abuses.
Four Cabinet ministers were forced out after agencies under their watch were implicated in the atrocities. They are Mr Shamsi Vuai Nahodha (Defence and National Service), Dr Emmanuel Nchimbi (Home Affairs), Mr Khamis Kagasheki (Natural Resources and Tourism) and Dr Mathayo David (Livestock Development and Fisheries).
On Law Day, Mr Justice Chande said the occasion would be marked at the new High Court premises in the city centre.
He added that the guest honour would be President Jakaya Kikwete.

Tuesday, January 28, 2014

TRA yapata dawa uvushaji meno ya tembo



28/01/2014 | Posted by Shehe Semtawa Kitaifa

MAMLAKA ya Mapato Tanzania (TRA) imesema wafanyabiashara wanaoshirikiana na watendaji wa Bandari ya Dar es Salaam kupitisha makontena ya meno ya tembo watabainika baada ya kuanza kutumika kwa mfumo mpya wa kielektroniki bandarini hapo.
Wakizungumza na waandishi wa habari jana jijini Dar es Salaam katika mafunzo mafupi yaliyohusu mfumo huo mpya, Naibu Kamishna wa TRA, Bellium Silaa, alisema mfumo huo umeanza kutumika katika bandari hiyo na utasaidia kupunguza utengenezaji wa nyaraka bandia unaofanikisha kupitisha makontena yenye bidhaa haramu yakiwemo meno ya tembo.
“Kwanza ni lazima tufahamu kuwa mfumo huu ni wetu, tumeubuni wenyewe na Wakorea wametusaidia kutengeneza, hivyo katika kupitisha mizigo yote lazima ionyeshe ni nani alihusika kufanya nini na wakati gani.
“Pia ni ngumu kutengeneza ‘export entry’ na hata mihuri haitakuwepo kwa maana hiyo hata utengenezaji wa nyaraka bandia utapungua,” alisema na kuongeza kwamba mfumo huo umegharimu dola milioni 11 za Marekani lakini unahitaji sana uadilifu wa watendaji wa bandari.
Kwa mujibu wa kamishna huyo, mfumo wa kielektroniki unaondoa mianya ya rushwa, unapunguza kufahamiana na hakuna msafirishaji au mwingizaji wa mzigo atakayeondoka na nyaraka mkononi bila kufanyiwa ‘scanning’ kwa kuwa kila kitu kitaendeshwa kwa mashine.
Alisema mfumo huo utaanza Machi mosi mwaka huu, ambapo mipaka na bandari zote zilizopo nchini zitahusishwa.
“Kama kuna mzigo utazidi basi ni lazima vitu vilivyomo ndani ya makontena hayo vipigwe mnada na taarifa za mnada unaohusu vitu hivyo vitawekwa ‘online’ ili wadau wote wafahamu,” alisema.
Alisema kuanza kwa mfumo huo kutahusisha idara mbalimbali zikiwemo Mamlaka ya Chakula na Dawa (TFDA), Shirika la Viwango (TBS) na Mkemia Mkuu wa Serikali.

Monday, January 27, 2014

TANAPA KUENDESHWA KWA MFUMO WA KIJESHI ILI KUDHIBITI UJANGILI


Askari wapya waliomaliza mafunzo ya miezi mine katika Hifadhi ya Taifa Katavi wakipiga saluti kabla ya kuwasilisha risala yao kwa Mkurugenzi Mkuu wa TANAPA Allan Kijazi aliyekuwa mgeni rasmi.

Katika kukabiliana na vitendo vya ujangili vinavyoendelea kushika kasi ndani nan je ya mipaka ya nchi yetu, Shirika la Hifadhi za Taifa (TANAPA) litaendeshwa katika mfumo wa jeshi-usu katika siku chache zijazo ambapo watumishi wake watalazimika kupitia katika mafunzo maalum ya kijeshi.

Mkurugenzi Mkuu wa TANAPA aliyasema hayo mwishoni mwa wiki alipokuwa akifunga rasmi mafunzo ya askari wapya 96 walioajiriwa na TANAPA na kuhudhuria mafunzo ya miezi minne katika Hifadhi ya Taifa Katavi mwishoni mwa wiki.

Kijazi alisema kuwa TANAPA imeanzisha utaratibu mpya ambapo sasa askari wanaoajiriwa na shirika kutoka katika Vyuo vya Wanyamapori vya Mweka na Pasiansi pamoja na wale wa kutoka Jeshi la Kujenga Taifa watalazimika kupitia mafunzo maalum yanayoandaliwa na shirika kwa ajili ya kuwawezesha waajiriwa wapya kufahamu mazingira halisi ya utendaji kazi katika eneo la uhifadhi katika maeneo ya Hifadhi za Taifa.





Sunday, January 26, 2014

Bila rasilimali haiwezekani kuhifadhi wanyama, kutokomeza ujangili!


Na Gaudensia Mngumi
25th January 2014

Operesheni tokomeza ujangili iliyokusudiwa kuondoa manjangili wa vipusa na wavamizi wa maeneo ya hifadhi ilimalizika kwa kuwang’oa madarakani mawaziri wane sababu kubwa ikiwa ni mauaji na udhalimu dhidi ya raia na uharibifu wa mali.

Hata hivyo serikali inajipanga ili kuanza operesheni tokomeza mpya na safari hii ikifanyika kwa umakini zaidi kutunza wanyamapori,  maeneo ya hifadhi na kumaliza ujangili kwa kuzingatia haki za binadamu .

Tokomeza ni moja ya mbinu za kumaliza ujangili nyingine ni zipi? Ujangili uliokithiri ni kielelezo cha kushindwa kumudu sekta ya wanyamapori ni changamoto gani zilizojikita eneo hilo? Ni  nini hatma ya sekta ya wanyama pori na uhafadhi?

NIPASHE inazungumza na mtaalamu wa ekolojia tasnis maingiliano baina ya viumbe hai binadamu wanyama,mimea na mazingira wa Chuo Kikuu cha Dar es Saalaam, Profesa Raphael Mwalyosi kuhusu sekta ya uhifadhi, wanyamapori na hatma yake.

Profesa Mwalyosi alifanya shahada za uzamili na uzamivu kwenye taaluma ya ekolojia ndani ya mbuga ya wanyama ya Ziwa Manyara na pia  bonde zima la ziwa Manyara.

Anaanza kuzungumzia juu ya sekta ya uhafadhi akitahadharisha kuwa licha ya Tanzania kuwa na nia njema ya kuhifadhi wanyama na mimea kwa ajili ya taifa na dunia serikali haina rasilimali watu, fedha, vifaa na teknolojia vya kutosha kuendeleza sekta hii.

Mwanaekolojia huyu anaeleza;“asilimia 30 ya ardhi ya Tanzania imetengwa kwa ajili ya hifadhi. Hiki ni kiasi kikubwa sana, kinaifanya kuwa taifa linaloongoza duniani kwa kuwa na maeneo makubwa yanayohifadhiwa.”

Tanzania ina ukubwa wa kilometa za mraba 945,000 ambazo asilimia 30 ni hifadhi, hivyo rasilimali hizo zinahitajika kuhifadhi maeneo hayo..

Kwa mujibu wa Wizara ya Maliasili na Utalii hifadhi inahusisha mapori tengefu, wanyama, misitu ya hifadhi , hifadhi za baharini, milima mabonde majengo /magofu, michoro ya mapangoni na mambo ya kale ambayo ni nyayo za mtu wa kale zilizoko Laetoli mkoani Manyara.

Pia uhifadhi unahusisha  hifadhi 28, mbuga za wanyama karibu 14 kama Tarangire, Ngorongoro, Mikumi na Serengeti. Ipo pia  michoro ya mapangoni iliyoko Kondoa, mabonde mengi mfano bonde la Ngongoro, Olduvai na  Ruaha.

Yapo magofu ya Kilwa, Mji Mkongwe wa Zanzibar , hifadhi ya Mlima Kilimanjaro na hifadhi za bahari zilizoko Bara na Visiwani.

Profesa Mwalyosi anasema yapo maeneo mengi na vivutio vingi na kwamba uhifadhi huu na uendelezaji wake unahitaji fedha  na nguvu  kazi za kutosha.Hata hivyo rasilimali hizo zinategemea zaidi msaada wa wafadhili jambo linalozua maswali mengi kuhusu hatma ya sekta hii.

TEMBO NA MAZINGIRA
Mwalyosi amebobea kwenye eneo la tabia na mienendo ya tembo akieleza kuwa mwaka 1975 alishiriki kuwahesabu wanyama pori akifanya kazi kwenye mbuga ya Manyara.Sensa hiyo iliwezesha pia kujifunza uharibifu wa mazingira unaofanywa na tembo.

“Tembo wanatabia ya kuharibu mazingira wakishazaliana wakaongezeka  wanaharibu misitu na mapori na kuharibu uoto wa asili.Ni tabia yao wanavyofanya popote wanapopatikana.”

Anasema wanatabia hiyo kutokana na idadi yao kuongezeka na mazingira  kuwakataa kwani hakuna chakula cha kuwatosha na baada ya kyharibu  mapori huondoka.

Anasema sensa ya wanyama iliyofanyika Manyara ilihesabu tembo karibu 700 lakini mwaka 1978 walikuwa wamechakaza mapori na karibu wote waliondoka. Hata hivyo miti ikistawi wanarejea tena kwenye makazi ya awali,

 Tembo ni waharibifu wa misitu na mapori na hata maeneo ya vijiji jirani  kwa hiyo iwapo  watazaliana na kuongezeka watahitaji mapori makubwa ya kutosha ili kwenda na kuanzisha makazi. Kwa ujumla ni wanyama wanaotaka sehemu kubwa za kuishi na uangalizi ili wasiuawe kupata meno.

Profesa Mwalyosi ambaye anazijua tabia na changamoto za tembo, anasema swali kubwa la kujiuliza ni hili Tanzania iko wapi katika kutunza na kuzifanya rasilimali hizi  nyingi zilizosambaa nchi nzima ili ziwe  endelevu? Anaanzia na ujangili;

UJANGILI
Anasema changamoto kubwa ya uhifadhi wanyama hao  tembo na faru  ni ujangili na kwamba zipo aina mbili kuu za ujangili ambazo ni kuwaua wanyama pori ili kupata kitoweo na kuua tembo na faru kupata vipusa vya biashara ya kimataifa.

Anasema ujangili wa kitoweo hufanywa na baadhi ya jamii zilizo karibu na mbunga mfano Serengeti wananchi huwinda wanyama kupata nyama maarufu kama ‘kimolo’, hii hutokea wakati wanyama wakihama.

Anatahadharisha kuwa wanyama wanaouawa ili kupata kitoweo ni kiasi kikubwa kwa mwaka ukilinganisha na taarifa zinazokusanywa. Hata hivyo majangili hawa wa kitoweo hawaui tembo bali wanawinda mbogo, pundamilia, nyumbu na swala.

Ujangili mwingine ni wa kibiashara wawindaji haramu wanasaka meno ya tembo na vipusa vya faru, hawa wanaangamiza tembo na vifaru.

VICHOCHEO
Anasema zipo sababu kadhaa za ujangili huu wa kibiashara lakini mojawapo ni kupatikana kwa masoko ya uhakika na wanunuzi kutoka nchi za Mashariki ya Mbali kuwepo nchini ili kufanikisha uhalifu huo.

“Tangu zamani ujangili ulifanyika, kwa mfano kwenye mbuga za Ruaha na Manyara ulikuwa ukifika msimu fulani tembo waliwindwa na meno kukusanywa zikuwepo meli maalumu zilizofika bandarini kibiashara lakini pia zilichukua nyara hizo.”

SOKO LA UHAKIKA
Anasema zama hizo meno ya tembo yalikuwa na soko la msimu ilikuwa vigumu kuuza meno kwa haraka, kwa wakati mmoja na kupata fedha ilikuwa yasafirishwe hadi ughaibuni hadi soko litakapopatikana.

Profesa anasema nyakati hizi masoko yapo, wanunuzi wanapatikana hapa nchini hakuna kuhangaika na kusubiri meli za msimu .

Anaeleza kuwa kuwepo wafanyabiashara  na wanunuzi wa meno haya hapa nchini kunachochea ujangili kwa kasi kubwa.

TEKNOLOJIA
Teknolojia na ubunifu inakuza pia ujangili kwa kuwa wengine wanayachakata meno ya tembo kutengeza vipande vidogo na kuvivaa kama shanga. Wengine  huyasaga unga badala ya kubeba meno mazima kufanya hivyo kunarahisisha ujangili hivyo biashara kuwa nyepesi na usafirishaji kuwa rahisi na unaoweza kukwepa mitego.

ULINZI HAFIFU
Anasema ulinzi hafifu unaotokana na kukosa rasilimali watu kama  askari wa wanyama pori, vifaa magari, helkopta, silaha na viona mbali kwenye hifadhi unaochangia ujangili kukomaa.

Tanzania inahifadhi nyingi, ndiyo  inaongoza hapa duniani kwa kuhifadhi maeneo makubwa ya ardhi ambayo ni mbuga za wanyama, mapori ya akiba, misitu,mapori tengefu na  maeneo oevu (wetlands).

Hata hivyo hakuna fedha za kutosha za kuyamudu na kuyaendeleza maeneo na rasilimali zillizoko ndani yake.

Ukweli ni kwamba mapori haya ni makubwa nchi ni maskini zinahitajika rasilimali nyingi na watu wa kuyatunza kama askari wa wanyama pori wa kuyasimamia na vitendea kazi na motisha na mishahara kwa ajili yao,kwa nchi hii maskini fedha hizo zinatoka wapi?

Kwa ujumla Tanzania haiwezi kusimamia na kutunza sekta hii kwa kuwa imehifadhi maeneo makubwa mno. “Nakumbuka kipindi fulani hayati Baba wa Taifa Mwalimu Julius Nyerere alisema tunahifadhi kwa ajili ya ulimwengu mzima, akitarajia dunia itasaidia kutunza rasilimali hizi,”anakumbusha Profesa Mwalyosi.

Anasema yako baadhi ya mashirika ya kimataifa yanayochangia sekta ya wanyama pori kama Frankfurt Zoological Society ya Ujerumani, Shirika la Wanyama walio katika hatari ya kuangamia (CITIES) na lile la Umoja wa Mataifa la Utamaduni na Sayansi (UNESCO).

“Michango yao ni midogo haitoshi kwa sababu kuna maeneo makubwa sana na vipo vitu vingi wanyama wengi sana wanaohitaji kuhifadhiwa na kulindwa, ” anafafanua na kuongeza:

“Tanzania haina uwezo huo, nchi ilitegemea dunia isaidie lakini  msaada unaotolewa ni kidogo kuna wakati Rais Jakaya Kikwete, alisema ukitoa eneo liwe urithi wa diunia watu wote wanafurahi lakini ina kuwa vigumu dunia kuchangia kikamilifu kuyaendeleza maeneo ya urithi yaliyotengwa kwa ajili ya wote.”

Makala  hii itaendelea wiki ijayo kueleza nini kifanyike kuifanya sekta hii kuwa endelevu.

CHANZO: NIPASHE
Habari Zaidi