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Tanzania: Maige On Firing Line Over Hunting Blocks
24 April 2012


Dodoma — A PARLIAMENTARY committee has recommended strict disciplinary action against the minister and other senior officials in the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism linked with massive irregularities in the issuance of hunting blocks permits and export of wildlife.

The Parliamentary Land, Natural Resources and Environment Committee's Report tabled in the House by its chairperson, Mr James Lembeli, on Monday, accused the minister, Mr Ezekiel Maige, of creating a 'corrupt environment' within the ministry.

"The minister has so far failed to enact 16 regulations as required for implementation of the wildlife Act of 2009. This leaves corruption loopholes that deny the government of revenue," said Mr Lembeli.

He claimed that the minister ignored the opinion of an advisory committee and went ahead to award first and second class hunting block permits to 16 companies that did not even apply for them -- at the expense of local firms that had shown interest in the same.

Mr Lembeli, who is Kahama MP (CCM), said the minister again disregarded the advice of the committee and granted hunting rights to three companies, Mwanauta, Kawawa Hunting Safaris Ltd and Malagarasi Hunting Safaris Ltd, which the committee found to have no qualifications to undertake the activity.

The committee also advocated for stern disciplinary action against former Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Dr Ladislaus Komba and other senior Wildlife officials, namely B.M. Midala and M.Madehele for their involvement in the illegal export of four female elephants to Karachi, Pakistan.

Dr Komba has since been appointed the Tanzania's High Commissioner to Uganda. Mr Lembeli said his committee established that on March 23, 2009, the country's Wildlife department informed the Karachi City Executive Director that his request for the jumbos had been granted.

"However, there is no evidence whatsoever to show that there was such request from Karachi or if the city received the animals," Mr Lembeli charged, noting that the deal was dubious. He said another scandal in the ministry saw an official, one Midala, on behalf of the Permanent Secretary (Dr Komba) issue permits for export of two giraffes, hippos (2), greater kudu (2) and elands(4) to Karachi.

Mr Lembeli also observed that contrary to regulations, some foreigners own licences for trapping live animals, citing one Pakistani national, Kamarani Ahmad, as an example. Meanwhile, the committee has established that Jungle International is illegally trading in wildlife because it changed its functions and identity to Jungle Auctioneers and Brokers Company. Jungle International was granted by the ministry permission to trap and export two live giraffes, to an unknown destination.

quote:

Mr Lembeli, who is Kahama MP (CCM), said the minister again disregarded the advice of the committee and granted hunting rights to three companies, Mwanauta, Kawawa Hunting Safaris Ltd and Malagarasi Hunting Safaris Ltd, which the committee found to have no qualifications to undertake the activity.

I missing a few other Companys

quote:

He claimed that the minister ignored the opinion of an advisory committee and went ahead to award first and second class hunting block permits to 16 companies that did not even apply for them

TIA

This issue is the talk of the town, splattered on the local tabloids on a daily basis and gaining momentum - the Parliamentary Committee is well-versed with the facts and wants answers.

quote:

Originally posted by fujotupu:
This issue is the talk of the town, splattered on the local tabloids on a daily basis and gaining momentum - the Parliamentary Committee is well-versed with the facts and wants answers.

WELL, I BET THEY AIN'T GONNA GET 'EM! money talks and you can bet, being Africa, that the proper palms have been greased.

Not so sure

By the way, those whose blocks are part of the adminstrative review who have received safari deposits could end up having to re-schedule or refund them if they subsequently do not hold the user rights to them post review. Of course there is always further legal recourse.....

What happens to the new changes after he is gone, will they let the old companies continue another 3 years...?

I doubt if the process will be re-started.... the new Minister will need to make a decision on this in the next couple of months!

It certainly has opened Pandora's Box though