Inaguration of Tanzania Wildlife Management Authourity (TAWA) will go along way towards strengthening to protect and conserve wildlife in all protected areas outside the National Parks and Ngorongoro Conservation Authority in Tanzania.
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Mr. Martin T. Loibooki (Ag. Director
General of TAWA)
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Tanzania is globally renowned for its abundance and
diversity of wildlife resource that is in-situ conserved in 16 Nationals Parks,
28 Game Reserves, 44 Game Controlled
Areas, 38 Wildlife Management Areas and Ngorongoro Conservation Area.
According
to the UNWTO report of 2013, Tanzania ranks second in terms of Natural
Resources competitiveness. No wonder over 90% of tourism
depends on wildlife. Many tourists come to Tanzania for photographic safaris
and a small proportion conduct hunting
safaris thereof legally obtaining trophies. In this context, Wildlife
determines our economy; buying us medicines, books in schools and constructing
our roads.
The authority, among other things, is
charged with building capacity for quick and timely response to wildlife
challenges.
Speaking at the inaugural ceremony in
Dar es salaam at Serena Hotel on 16th October, 2015. Hon. Dr. Jakaya
Mrisho Kikwete (The Former President of Tanzania) directed TAWA to go the extra mile beyond conservation and
protection, stressing that efforts should also focus on improved security of
wild animals and increasing their population density.
Dr. Mrisho Jakaya Kikwete (The former President of Republic
of Tanzania) inaugurating TAWA
‘You TAWA’
have the powers to hire competent paramilitary personnel and other supporting
staff for guaranteed safety of wildlife animals. Efforts must be well coordinated
to avoid deployment of the army as it
happened in the past. You need to train
people from the National Service camps for example,in order to form a
formidable, highly disciplined and well paid in corruptive force,’’ Mr. Kikwete
directed.
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Board Members of TAWA, Minister for Natural Resources and
Tourism (Third from left ) and
Ambassador for Germany in
Tanzania(Second from right seated)who attended the inauguration Ceremony of
TAWA in a group picture with the Hon. President.
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‘’Serious execution of duties in conservation and
protection of wildlife involves action and not empty promises. Hundreds of
wildlife species and birds have disappeared from their natural habitats due to
human activities. These include poaching, wildfires, charcoal making, grazing
of livestock in protected areas and cultivation. It is important that
restoration of the natural habitats becomes a reality’’ he observed.
However, the president did not play down the arduous
task of fighting poaching and other related wildlife protection set backs. He
therefore asked TAWA not to dwell on claims that poachers are heavily armed.
"Get better and sophisticated weapons to tackle
poachers. Those killed in a fire exchange is unfortunate but never kill
suspects who are arrested alive, bring them before court to justice as
extra-judicial killing is not acceptable. TAWA will cover159, 778 square
kilometers and this is not small matter" he said.
"Wildlife conservation requires dedication and
competence. In The Early 1960s there were more than 350,000 elephants in the
country. The number dropped to 50,000 in the 1970s, the situation that called
for ‘Operation
Uhai’ in
1978" Mr. Kikwete said.
President Kikwete retired the need for the
international community to help stop poaching in ivory as the external demand
propels poaching in countries of origin.
Minister
for Natural Resources and Tourism, Hon. Mr Lazaro Nyalandu said TAWA with its headquarters
in Morogoro was tasked with a number of obligations including reshaping
wildlife management conservation.
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Hon.Lazaro Nyalandu (Former Minister of MNRT) addressing the
participants during Inauguration Ceremony of TAWA
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According
to Mr. Nyalandu, more than 500 game wardens will be employed to in the next
year to bridge the gap. There has been a shortage of staff in the sector and
this is the country’s way of solving that problem, he said.
"Employment of highly
skilled wildlife officers as well as game wardens is important as we establish
this authority whose vision is to become a center of Excellency in wildlife law
enforcement. Special gratitude to the government of Germany for ardent support
to the establishment of TAWA as shown below to the picture the ambassador is
giving speech. In the recent years,
poaching of wildlife in particular elephant and illegal ivory trafficking in
Tanzania and region at large has increased.
This poses a threat not only to the
survival of elephant populations but also to economic, political and ecological
systems. Poaching and illegal trade in wildlife products is driven by
international criminal network and curtails which fuels corruption, undermines
the rule of law, security and is associated with organized crimes".
Hon.
Nyalandu continued to say that ‘The government of the United Republic of
Tanzania has taken various measures such as increasing the frequency of regular
and special anti-poaching operations, awareness campaigns to local and
international community on how serious poaching is and how it affects human
wellbeing by disturbing the ecological stability’’
Hon. Nyalandu
also announced suspension of local and resident hunting for two years from 2015
to control consumption of game meat that has exceeded the permitted quota.
However, he
expressed disappointment against Public Procurement Regulatory Authority(PPRA)
for delaying authorization of a already concluded deal on commercial adverts
Tanzania the Soul of Africa with CNN and BBC to promote tourism for increased
number of tourists from 1.1 millions annually to 5 millions by 2020.
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Mr. Egon Kochanke The Ambassodor for Germany in
Tanzania
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‘’Germany
Ambassodor, Mr.Egon Kochanke pledged continued support to Tanzania wildlife by
his government to help reverse the trend of poaching that hit both local and
international headlines.
‘Germany
will continue to be strong partner of TAWA
in training and shared expertise and one of our collegues will shift to
Morogoro headqutres to work closely with the team’’.
Ambassodor kochanke said.
The Permanent Secretary to the Ministry of Natural
Resources and Tourism, Dr. Aldelhem Meru, named Mr. MartinLoiboki as the
interim Director General of TAWA with other eleven board members under the Chairmanship
of Major General (Retired) Hamis Semfuko.
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| Major General (Retired)Hamis Semfuko – Chairman of Board for TAWA cutting the tape with the help from Kay Kagaruki (Principle Game Officer) |
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Hon. President Dr. Kikwete handling the working Document
of TAWA to Dr. Adelhem Meru (Former Permanent Secretary-MNRT) the first person
from left.
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Mr. Martin T. Laibooki- Acting-Director General of TAWA
(First from right) into deep discussion with Mr. H. Keraryo-The Former Director
of Wildlife (Centre) and Mr. L. Mayetta- Principle Game Office
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Population of elephants around
Matambwe Camp in Selous Game Reserve
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