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Issue No. 0798:
February 8 - 14, 2014
Front page 2
Imported rhinos being taxed heavily

By Staff Writer

The Parliamentary Committee of Land, Natural Resources and Environment has just unveiled that packs of rhinoceros being brought into the country to replenish the endangered species in Serengeti and Mkomazi National Parks, are being taxed heavily.

"Overseas friends in conservation have been aiding Tanzania in its efforts to re-stock and protect the country's disappearing species of Rhinoceros, but it has just come to our notice that, wildlife partners who ferry the rare animals back here, are being subjected to pay duty on each rhino" the Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee, Mr James Lembeli revealed.

Members of National Assembly's Special Committee on Land, Natural Resources and Environment uncovered what they described to be a 'serious issue' shortly after visiting the Mkomazi National Park, striding Tanga and Kilimanjaro regions where the country's Rhino breeding sanctuary is located.



"It is unthinkable that we are biting the same hand which feeds us…they are donating the rare and valuable animals back to Tanzania, free of charge but in doing so, we are also demanding that they should pay us, shocking!" said Mr Lembeli.

According to the Parliamentary Committee Chairman, even the equipment, vehicles and other items being imported into the country for sole purpose of catering and protecting the endangered rhinos, are also being charged heavy taxes.

Each rhino being brought into the country is charged by the Tanzania Revenue Authority between US$ 400 and US$ 500, equivalent to 820,000/- .





Accompanying equipment imported to ferry, protect and care for the species are taxed even though such items happen to be donated by partners in wildlife conservation.

"At the moment nearly 10 vehicles and anti-poaching equipment are stuck at the Dar-es-Salaam port because the customs people are demanding billions in form of VAT and other duties, while the country keeps loosing rhinos, elephants and other species to poachers," Mr Lembeli was quoted as saying.

Special Seats, Legislator for Morogoro, Ms Susan Limbweni Kiwanga who is one of the members of the Parliamentary Committee expressed her shock from the discovery, saying the international communities must be finding Tanzanians to be strange people who demad money from foreigners who help them.

"It is like punishing a person who has just given you gifts," she said, adding that if the country was so keen to reap money from the rhinos, then the same animals could yield billions if kept well and used for tourism.

In response to that, the Deputy Minister for Natural Resources and Tourism, Mr Mahmoud Mgimwa admitted that the issue had just been presented to him by the Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee of Natural Resources, Land and Environment.

"They have brought the matter to the government and we, as responsible Ministry we are going to address the issue effectively, " he said while also admitting that it was wrong to impose taxes on such important and highly valued donations.

The Mkomazi rhino sanctuary, managed by Tony and Lucy Fitzjohn through the George Adamson Wildlife Preservation Trust is undertaking the project to rehabilitate the Rhino habitat in the area including restocking it with the rare horned mammals.

The whole set-up, including 40 kilometers' long, perimeter electric fence, is valued at more than 15 billion/- and according to Mr Fitzjohn, the Tanzania National Parks (TANAPA) is providing great assistance to the efforts and at the moment they have enough rhino species there though "We are not prepared to devulge their number for security reasons," he stated.

Why does this not surprise me...?

And people wonder why the phrase "Africa wins again" is so popular.

Sad.