Dodoma — THE Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism is in the final stages of establishing the Tanzania Wildlife Authority, the National Assembly was told.

Deputy Minister in the ministry, Mr Lazaro Nyalandu, said the ministry was putting final touches on the establishment of the authority, including earmarking its responsibilities.

He said a task-force on the establishment of the authority has visited the Tanzania National Parks Authority (TANAPA) and Ngorongoro Conservation Authority (NCA) to learn how they operate.

According to Nyalandu, the task-force was able to learn operation structures of the two authorities which would enable it advice on how the new authority should be set up and operate. Responsibilities and structure of the authority would be ready by September, this year.

He said drafting of a bill on establishment of the authority would start in October and expected to be completed by December this year. Mr Nyalandu was responding to a basic question by Mbogwe MP, Augustine Manyanda Massele (CCM) who had wanted to know as to when would the government move in the National Assembly a bill on the establishment of the authority.

He explained further that section 8 of the Wildlife Conservation Act of 2009 gives power to the Minister of Natural Resources and Tourism to establish the wildlife authority. The envisaged law and eventually the establishment of the authority are expected to increase revenues from forests, national parks and game reserves countrywide.

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