By Nasongelya Kilyinga
Dodoma
— Thegovernment has banned transportation of all live animals outside
the country for the next three years until proper procedures are made to
ensure only approved animals are transported.
Natural Resources
and Tourism Minister Professor Jumanne Maghembe told the National
Assembly here yesterday when winding up his ministry's budget estimates
for 2016/2017 that not even laces will be allowed to cross borders.
He said his
ministry has instructed the Wildlife Department to come up with proper
procedures to ensure that only primates and reptiles are cleared for
transportation outside the country. Prof Maghembe added that the monkeys
that were recently intercepted as they were illegally transported
outside the country were meant to be used for medical research, which
would have not benefitted the country.
"In any case, it
would have instead benefitted the countries where those monkeys were
being transported to," he remarked. Meanwhile, Members of Parliament
(MPs) have demanded an investigation into the illegal export of live
animals to Qatar from the Kilimanjaro International Airport (KIA).
Iringa Urban Lawmaker, Mr Peter Msigwa (Chadema), accused the ministry
of clearing a foreign hunting firm, Green Miles Safaris Limited, to
continue hunting in the country despite violating legislation and
regulations governing wildlife conservation by hunting restricted wild
animals in the Selous Game Reserve
Mr Msigwa noted
that just a few years back, former Minister for Natural Resources and
Tourism, Mr Lazaro Nyalandu, had revoked the licence for Green Miles
Safari following revelations that it has been acting against set
regulations. Mr Msigwa demanded to know who was behind the clearance.
"Honourable
Chairman; we want to know who brought this company back through the back
door. Why is the government failing to be consistent in its decisions,
especially when it comes to matters of national interests?" Mr Msigwa
queried.
The MP, observing
that hunting was about conservation, said that it was shocking to learn
that "this particular company has failed to observe required
conservation standards. They hunt small black monkeys, use silence guns
and many other illegal hunting practices."
He charged that the
firm contravened the Tanzania Wildlife Conservation Act No 5 of 2009
and the Tourist Hunting Regulations of 2010. According to him, the
company was found liable of many misdeeds, including employing
unprofessional hunters, which include children under the age of 18
years. He also demanded to know the name of MP who was accused of
poaching to be made public, saying it was a big embarrassment for the
Parliament if it was true.
The outspoken
lawmaker also warned his fellow MPs to avoid putting their
constituencies ahead of national interests, saying it was not good to
side with either farmers or pastoralists. Instead, he said, "time is up
now for the country to come up with clear land demarcations where
farmers and pastoralists will peacefully conduct their farming livestock
keeping activities."
Mr Msigwa's
concerns were supported by Ms Esther Bulaya (Bunda Urban - Chadema), who
pinned the ministry to clarify how Green Miles Safaris were allowed
back in the country's hunting blocks.
The MP also
suggested that the ministry should reconsider offering double entry
visas to tourists who tour the country, adding that a single entry visa
was the best solution for the country to collect enough revenue from the
sector instead.Ms Catherine Magige (Special Seats - CCM), also
expressed concern over what she alleged as organised criminal poaching
syndicates operating in Tanzania, saying it was a big threat to the
country's tourism.
She demanded a
review of the law to impose stricter penalties against poachers,
including life imprisonment. She also wanted the legislator who has been
linked to poaching to be named, saying no one is above the law. "This
matter should seriously be looked at and appropriate action taken.
It is an
embarrassment to us all," she complained. Vunjo MP James Mbatia
(NCCR-Mageuzi) felt that little was being done to promote the country's
tourism, which at the moment contributes 17.5 per cent of the GDP and 25
per cent of foreign exchange earnings.
However, he noted,
such contribution remained static for the past three years. "Why are we
lagging behind despite the fact that Tanzania is second best in the
world as far as tourist attractions are concerned? It is unfathomable
that despite all its potentials, Tanzania is placed 110 out of the 133
countries in the world in conducive environment for tourism," he said.
Mr Mbatia advised
the ministry to consider creating a better environment to attract local
investors to set up investments in tourism sector, especially by
scrapping unwanted fees, licences and levies.
Mr Cosato Chumi
(Mafinga Urban -CCM), said the Tanzania Tourist Board (TBB) should be
given more funds for promotion, saying the 2 million US dollars set
aside for the next financial year was too little compared to Kenya's 80
million US dollars. "How do you expect us to compete with Kenya?
They will continue
to market tourism potentials such as Mt Kilimanjaro in Tanzania and
pocket the benefits," he said. His sentiments were seconded by
Ambassador Adadi Rajab (Muheza-CCM), who said the 1.1 million US dollars
that the country was earning annually from its all tourist attractions
was too little compared to 2 million dollars earned by Zimbabwe through
Victoria Falls alone.
Arumeru West MP
Gibson Meiseyeki (Chadema) said overhaul of the country tourism
marketing strategy was needed because at the moment the TTB has failed
to tap new markets such as China, India and Japan.
He said the number
of tourist arrivals was too small compared to South Africa's 12 million
tourists annually and Egypt's 15 million annually despite the fact that
they do not have such attractions like those found in Tanzania.
A bitter war of
words ensued among MPs over the ever-increasing clashes between farmers
and pastoralists in the country. Nkasi North Lawmaker Ali Keissy (CCM),
spoke bitterly over such tendency and warned MPs to avoid being part of
the crisis.
"Let us all be
warned to be vigilant on what we say. But it is important that we all
put the national interest ahead of everything," he said, adding that it
was not correct to turn every part of the country into a grazing area.
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