https://allafrica.com/stories/201907260742.html



26 JULY 2019

The Citizen (Dar es Salaam)

Tanzania: President Magufuli Directs Minister to Establish Nyerere Nation Park At Selous

By Frank Kimboy

Dar es Salaam — President John Magufuli has directed the ministry of tourism and natural resources to redemarcate Selous game reserve so as to establish Nyerere National Park.

The president was speaking during at a ceremony to lay the foundation stone for construction of Stigler Gorge hydroelectric power station.

He said, the Selous game reserve, should be divided into two parts.

The lower part according to the President should retain its current status as game reserve, while the upper part should become a National Park, named after the founding father of Tanzania, Mwalimu Julius Nyerere.

He said that the National Park should be named after the father of the nation because he was the one, who conceived the idea of constructing a hydropower station at the Rufiji delta in Selous.

President Magufuli explained that by establishing a National Park, it will help the country to generat revenue through tourism.



"By having a National Park we will received many tourists hence more revenues and we will continue to earn money from the 47 hunting blocks from Selous Game Reserve," said the President.

On the Stigler Gorge hydropower project, the President allayed fears that its implementation will negatively impact the environment.

"I know many people from inside and outside the country oppose the project by claiming it has negative environmental impact, but the fact is the project will have many positive impacts," said he.


The President added: "about 400 hectares of forest are harvested each day for charcoal and firewood... this won't happen after the completion of the project because we will have sufficient cheap power."

"After all, the project will be implemented in 1.922 per cent out of more than 50, 000 kilometer area that host Selous Game Reserve," said the President.

According to the president Stigler Gorge hydropower project upon its completion will help the country to attain the dream of have an industrial economy.

The project according to minister of energy Mr Medard Kalemani will be completed in the next 35 months.

On his part Egypt minister of energy Dr Mohamed Shaker El-Markabi said assured the President that the project, which is implemented by two Egyptian companies will be completed on time.

Good luck with getting tourists to fly that far when there are so many more accessible national parks.

quote:

Originally posted by AnotherAZWriter:
Good luck with getting tourists to fly that far when there are so many more accessible national parks.

This President is a Day Dreamer

I could be wrong as I do not know how everything lines up on the map. However, it seems to me the idea is to create the National Park, named after a not evil, white man, where game and underdevelopment will exist. This would pacify maybe even get some NGOs and greenies on board. Here is a zone with no hunting and no development making such interest happy.

The other half would be developed, hydrodamn, mine, other means.

It has been reported here bc of the loss of revenue with the lion and elephant situation combined with TZ being TZ that hunting blocks in the Selous are vacant and not review producing. So, the economic counter weight hunting could provide to this forces is not coming to bear.

quote:

Originally posted by AnotherAZWriter:
Good luck with getting tourists to fly that far when there are so many more accessible national parks.

Even if it relates to the current photographic areas north of the river bank it is still quite a long haul by road.

Its current status is ecotourism related and a "national park" in its own rights considering hunting is not allowed; giving it official recognition by renaming it in honour of a past president is not going to increase its status of attraction or importance (IMO).

Africa Wins Again!

Common Sense Lose Again!

Talking to a lady that runs a travel agency here.

She said almost ALL ecotourists that she books ask to go to places that are Malaria free.

Places that are above certain altitude, and there are plenty in Kenya and South Africa for example.

People apparently avoid taking their children to area exposed to Malaria.

Add tsetse flies to the recipe and see what happens.

So much for their much vaunted gas pipeline fixing power problems in Dar.

Sad.

AWA.

Look at the positive aspect of Lake Kariba, in Zimbabwe, on the surrounding landscape and people's. It's created it's own piece of paradise since the 1950s project was completed.

Over time the opportunities this new lake offers will be seen and pounced on. Houseboats, lodges, camps, fish farms etc. This, in turn, will require a better road network etc.

Give Tanzania a chance before decrying this project.

quote:

Originally posted by Neil-PH:
Look at the positive aspect of Lake Kariba, in Zimbabwe, on the surrounding landscape and people's. It's created it's own piece of paradise since the 1950s project was completed.

Over time the opportunities this new lake offers will be seen and pounced on. Houseboats, lodges, camps, fish farms etc. This, in turn, will require a better road network etc.

Give Tanzania a chance before decrying this project.

You are right that there will be some positive aspects to this.

But, sadly, as in Zimbabwe, political corruption will not help at all.

Basically, so many countries in Africa can be turned into great places, from manufacturing to tourism.

Their own governments just will never be open to honest, protected, foreign investment.

quote:

Originally posted by Neil-PH:
Look at the positive aspect of Lake Kariba, in Zimbabwe, on the surrounding landscape and people's. It's created it's own piece of paradise since the 1950s project was completed.

Over time the opportunities this new lake offers will be seen and pounced on. Houseboats, lodges, camps, fish farms etc. This, in turn, will require a better road network etc.

Give Tanzania a chance before decrying this project.

I am willing, on faith, to accept the positives you identify. The fact is there will be no hunting in this new national park. If the photos cannot pay because of logistics game will be hammered for those improvements. Photos could not stave off elephant poaching in Botswana.

Call me a cultural colonists, but the fact the Selous which in the face of Kenya anti hunting debacle was a star of truth. I feel very much like the scene from Out of Africa:

Karen, “Did you think it would stay the same?”

Finch-Hatton, “I thought it might.”

When this happens the Selous will cease. I half expect them to put a black top road over Fredrick Courtney Selous’ grave. That saddens me.

The largest, wild part of Africa, the largest game reset on earth with no offenses is being torn asunder. If others deem it necessary, then I accept to be on the losing side. I am still saddened.