Until Tanzania gets a handle on its corruption and prosecutes crimes against their own laws like these...the US citizen hunters can have NO hope in correcting their internal problems with USF&WS.

This video exemplifies all that is wrong with in the Tanzanian Hunting Community.

http://allafrica.com/stories/201605260680.html



Paragraphs Four through Ten.


Tanzania: Live Animal Exports Banned Pending Proper Procedures

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.

So basically Tanzania has reinstated Green Mile and returned all of their blocks. And it is my understanding they intend to prosecute the Game Scout for the violations of the wildlife act in the Green Mile video. This was stated in parliament yesterday.

This is paramount exhibition of corruption!

The USF&WS is supposed to take these outlaws' words for anything???

http://allafrica.com/stories/201605270374.html



Tanzania: Violators of Hunting Laws Listed for Prosecution

Natural Resources and Tourism Minister Jumanne Maghembe said yesterday that several workers in his ministry and others from a foreign hunting firm, Green Miles Safaris Limited, will be prosecuted for violating wildlife conservation laws.

Winding up his ministry's 2016/2017 budget estimates on Wednesday evening, he said government did nothing wrong in clearing Green Miles Safaris Limited to continue hunting in the country, saying it adhered to a court order.

On Tuesday, several Members of Parliament (MPs) accused the ministry for clearing the company despite violating legislation and regulations governing wildlife conservation by hunting restricted wild animals in the Selous Game Reserve.

Prof Maghembe said before 2011, the government had divided Natron hunting block into two - Natron North and Natron South. Thereafter, the minister explained, the blocks were sub-divided into four in which Green Miles Safaris Limited was allocated with one.

He, however, said that another American firm that was allocated with another hunting block protested and wanted to retain a block that Green Miles Safaris owned.

The minister said while the battle between the two companies was raging on, a DVD emerged with images showing that the company was hunting restricted animals such as lions, small black monkeys using silence guns and many other illegal hunting malpractices.



The situation forced the ministry then under former minister Lazaro Nyalandu to revoke the licence of Green Miles Safari Limited, explained the minister. He, however, explained that the company lodged a court case and on March 30, last year and the ruling was in its favour of retaining Natron hunting block.

Prof Maghembe cleared himself, saying that the minister has no powers to revoke a licence of a company or individual who will be cleared by the court. "What we did is to adhere to the court ruling," he insisted, adding that the government is in the process of lodging a court case against the culprits who were shown in the DVD violating hunting procedures.

Following revelations that the company has been acting against the set regulations, the government has also announced a three-year ban on exportation of all live animals. He said reports of escalating exploitation of protected wildlife, coupled with the emerging prominence of highly organised and well-equipped illicit actors in wildlife trafficking, has forced the government to arrive at the decision, until proper procedures are put in place to ensure only approved animals are exported.


The ministry has ordered the Wildlife Department to come up with proper procedures to ensure that only primates' animals such as reptiles are cleared to be exported.

The minister laid emphasis on government's long-standing commitment to protect endangered animal species from over-exploitation and to support natural resource management development.

Debating the ministry's budget estimates, several MPs suggested that policy and legal challenges as reasons behind the escalation of wildlife trafficking, calling on the government to address the illicit trade in endangered wildlife.

"Honourable Chairman, we want to know who brought this company (Green Miles) back through the back door. Why is the government failing to be consistent in its decisions, especially when it comes to matters of national interest?" queried Iringa Urban legislator (Chadema) Peter Msigwa.

"Hunting is about conservation but it is shocking that this specific company has failed to observe the required standards of conservation. They hunt small black monkeys, use of guns fitted with a silencer and many other illegal hunting malpractices," he added.

There are so many flaws in this article i wouldn't know where to start addressing the errors......

Plus the Minister BLATANTLY LIED in Parliament and his quote that they are prosecuting those culpable as show in the GM video is utter BS and another attempt by this Minister to sweep the issues under the carpet simply because ROYALTY is involved!

Where is the outrage from SCI???

Where is the outrage from John Jackson???

John was running around the shows telling everyone no worries he would have the lion export thing ironed out in 2 weeks!

SCI comes here and exclaims they are working for wildlife protection!!!

Why is John Jackson NOT putting pressure where pressure is needed...squarely on the Tanzanian government???

USF&WS would look like fools for doing anything cooperative with the outlaws of the Tanzanian government!!!

John Jackson, SCI, & DSC should be calling for boycotts from hunters to this country until this government gets its corruption under control and starts protecting its wildlife and prosecuting offenders like Green Mile and those in the other video!!!

cow-trader has a point!

This has got to stop...or...it really is over.

There appears to be an under current attempt by the Tanzanian Government to "hit out" at US interests/investments in Tz following the US Government decision to withhold donor funds under the Millaneum Challenge Corporation (MCC)due to the failed Zanzibar elections. The US power producing company based in Tz, Symbion Power, had its power supplying contract with the state owned power company, TANESCO, rescinded by the Government without explanation!

For those following this thread that understand what is going on in Tanzania... this is good supplemental reading

https://www.washingtonpost.com...01a41decb_story.html



Tanzania gives hunting permit to a firm despite video of animal abuse


By Kevin Sieff June 29 at 4:09 PM


NAIROBI—The trophy hunters’ transgressions were all caught on tape — capturing baby zebras, running over an impala with a truck, watching wildebeests writhe and bleed before killing them, letting children participate in the hunt.

It was an appalling display that led the Tanzanian government in 2014 to suspend Green Mile Safari, a hunting company that catered to wealthy tourists from the United Arab Emirates. But last month, to the shock of conservationists and U.S. officials, that company was quietly welcomed back to Tanzania just in time for hunting season.

The story of Green Mile, which is partially owned by one of the wealthiest men in Abu Dhabi, is a window into the shadowy world of big game hunting in a country where biodiversity has crashed in recent decades. In Tanzania, hunters can pay thousands of dollars to kill nearly any animal, even elephants, whose population has fallen from 110,000 in 2009 to just over 43,000 at the end of 2014. A lion can be killed for $8,000, a leopard for $6,000.



Hunters argue that the money raised from those hunts supports conservation and that they can be done sustainably. But the images from Green Mile’s video — part of a macabre advertisement for the company — show just how poorly regulated hunting in Tanzania can be, with wildlife illegally captured, abused, tortured. In one scene, a hunter tackles a baby zebra and puts his arm around its throat, one of many violations of Tanzania’s wildlife laws.

"I want to take a picture with him," the man says in Arabic. "Take a picture of me with him."

Yet even with those images public and a flurry of protestations from the U.S. ambassador, the Humane Society of the United States and Tanzanian lawmakers, Green Mile has been given another hunting permit. One reason, some argue, is that 48 percent of the company is owned by the wealthy and well-connected Sheikh Abdulla Bin Mohammed Bin Butti al-Hamed, a member of the U.A.E.’s ruling family who has held several top positions in its government.

Al-Hamed has flown friends and family to the safari property. He’s even featured in the video — holding a live a wart hog by the head.

“He loves hunting, so he wants the company to exist,” said Yahya Kishashu, a strategic advisor to Green Mile, in an interview.

Kishashu defended al-Hamed and the company, saying that the video “was recorded by clients because they had no clue they were doing anything wrong.”

Both Kishashu and Tanzanian government officials said the hunting guide in the video— paid by Green Mile and responsible for following wildlife laws – should be punished, not the company as a whole. That guide “was not doing his job,” Kishashu said.

Maj. Gen. Gaudence Milanzi, the principal secretary of Tanzania’s Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism, which regulates the country’s hunting permits, also blamed official “game scouts” who were responsible for keeping the clients in line.

“We should be punishing these individuals, not the company,” he said — even though one of the company's owners was participating in the illegal hunt.

In a letter to Tanzania’s attorney general and obtained by The Washington Post, U.S. Ambassador Mark Childress wrote that he was “shocked” that Green Mile had been given a license “after committing a series of very serious violations of the Wildlife Conservation Act.”

Green Mile had been given a concession of land originally allocated for 30 years to a safari company owned by the Houston-based Friedkin Cos. The land was taken from Friedkin just a year after that 30-year pledge was made.

Childress wrote in his letter that the Tanzanian government’s decision, “would cause grave damage to our mutual interest in deepening U.S. investment in Tanzania.”

Milanzi said the natural resources and tourism minister did not have the right to suspend a hunting company. But the country’s Wildlife Conservation Act says that “the minister shall cancel the allocation of the hunting block if he is sure there is sufficient evidence that the person has committed any offense.”

Milanzi acknowledged that offense had been committed.

“You see the video, and it’s clear that what they did was wrong,” he said.


In 2014, the Tanzanian government had called Green Mile's hunting practices a “gross violation” of the country’s laws. Removing the company was considered a major victory for conservationists in the region,

So why bring Green Mile back — especially if it endangers the country’s relationship with the United States, which is scheduled to give Tanzania $575 million in 2017?

“I don’t doubt there’s a substantial amount of money for the ministers involved,” said David Hayes, the former deputy secretary of the interior from 2009 to 2013 and now the chair of the U.S. Wildlife Trafficking Alliance.

"I am worried there are all signs of corruption,” said Zitto Kabwe, head of the Alliance for Change and Transparency, an opposition party.

As wealth mounted in the UAE, some of the country’s businessmen began purchasing hunting concessions in East Africa that would cater to UAE tourists. Tanzania was one of their first stops. In 1992, the Ortelo Business Co. began flying clients to the Loliondo area near Serengeti National Park, where people hunted freely on over 50,000 acres. They returned with planes full of the animals they killed.

It’s not just UAE companies and hunters who are known for violating wildlife laws. Last year, an American dentist working with a Zimbabwean guide caused an uproar when he shot and killed a lion known as Cecil. Two men working with the guide were accused of using bait to lure the lion out of a national park. That incident stoked outrage at the existence of big game hunting in Africa, and revenue from sanctioned hunting is down across much of the continent.

Now, Green Mile's reinstatement has raised further questions about how big game hunting is managed in parts of Africa.


“It is appalling that the Tanzanian government has reinstated the hunting license and concession of a trophy-hunting company known for committing egregious acts of animal cruelty," said Wayne Pacelle, the chief executive of the Humane Society of the United States.

Tanzania has attempted to improve conservation efforts and to promote tourism in the Serengeti region for non-hunters, who come to see the massive migration of animals across East Africa. It has worked to combat wildlife poachers.


Now, some Tanzanians worry what Green Mile’s return means for that conservation agenda.

“How can the government stand in the world and show that it fights for conservation while the same government issue permits to hunt to a company like Green Mile?” Kabwe asked.

This may be the first time I find myself n agreement with the HSUS.

http://allafrica.com/stories/201607070136.html



Tanzania: Leave Hunting Block, U.S Firm Told

Dar es Salaam and Arusha — The government on Wednesday ordered a US firm out of a disputed tourism hunting block in Arusha in a bid to end a long-running standoff with another foreign company over hunting rights.

The order was served against Wengert Windrose Safaris (WWS) Tanzania Limited which has been embroiled in a bitter dispute with an United Arab Emirates company, Green Miles Safaris over allotted hunting rights in the animal-rich corridor around Lake Natron, Longido District.

Both the US and the UEA companies have waged local and international campaigns against each other as they tried to take control of the multi-billion shillings trophy hunting business.

Wednesday's announcement by the government is the latest in a string of efforts to resolve the row that begun in 2011 when a fresh round of allocation of the hunting blocks was done.

The WWS is registered in Tanzania as a charitable fund running tourism hunting and conservation projects. It is part of Texas registered Friedkin Conservation Fund (FCF) owned by a wealth US family, which also operates another local company known as Tanzania Game Trackers Safaris.

Green Mile Safari official Gharib Ali said it has already been officially notified to resume tourist hunting in the area after it was stopped in 2014 over alleged violations on animal rights and hunting procedures. The firm is partly owned by Sheikh Abdulla Bin Mohammed Bin Butti al-Hamed, a member of the United Arab Emirates royal family.

https://www.thecitizen.co.tz/n...0-12vnkef/index.html


Green Mile expelled from hunting block.

Why has it taken them so long to kick these idiots out??

quote:

Originally posted by Saeed:
Why has it taken them so long to kick these idiots out??

I agree- they supposedly occupied that block for a long time after being "officially" expelled some time back. Are things a little shaky in Tanzania now? You bet!

Also, some Game Reserves are being converted into National Parks i. e. Burigi and Ugalla and plans to make a large section of the Selous a National Park as well. Plus large tracts previously leased by Pasinisi in the Selous are not occupied- lots of changes!

https://www.thecitizen.co.tz/n...48-285g1n/index.html


Four Green Mile workers held after'resisting' order.