Hunting term extension revoked
JAPHET SANGA in Dodoma
Daily News; Friday,January 30, 2009 @21:15


The National Assembly yesterday revoked a three-year extension for the hunting term given to the Tanzania Hunting Operators Association (TAHOA) that was scheduled to end in 2012. Instead, there will now be a two-year transition period (2009 - 2010), allowing tourist hunting to start in 2011 under new hunting regulations after amendments of the Wildlife Conservation Act (2008).

The Bill was tabled for second reading in the House yesterday by the Minister for Tourism and Natural Resources, Ms Shamsa Mwangunga. Revocation of the hunting term that was given to hunting companies through TAHOA by the ministry followed a private motion tabled by Kwela legislator, Mr Chrisant Mzindakaya, stating that the minister had contravened parliamentary resolutions on the issue.

Mr Mzindakaya contended that the ministry’s move to give the current hunting companies a three-year extension contravened parliamentary resolutions agreed in the 11th session of the House, last year. Had it not been for the intervention of the House Speaker, Mr Samuel Sitta and the Prime Minister, Mr Mizengo Pinda, the private motion had already attracted scores of debaters.

The premier was called on by the Speaker to give a government statement in the House whereby the former asked the legislators to let go of the oversight as Ms Mwangunga had apologised to the House. However, Mr Sitta cautioned that ministers should, in future, be careful in overruling decisions passed by the National Assembly as that amounted to contravening the rights and privileges of the House.

Moving the motion, Mr Mzindakaya said the parliamentary resolution’s aim was to enable the country generate more income from tourist hunting by slicing large hunting blocks into smaller portions, an exercise that would have created 89 new ones. The two MPs who debated the motion before intervention of the Speaker and the premier, Mr Zitto Kabwe (Chadema-Kigoma North) and Mr Fred Mpendazoe (CCM-Kishapu) expressed disappointment over the ministry’s decision to extend the hunting term.

Meanwhile, the Minister for Tourism and Natural Resources yesterday said the Wildlife Conservation Bill (2008) she tabled for second reading in the House was aimed at amending regulations governing Wildlife Management Areas, including those on tourist hunting.

Under the proposed Bill, Tanzanians will also be allowed to own not less than 25 per cent of total shares in tourist hunting companies and that foreign hunting companies would be allocated blocks not exceeding 15 per cent. The Bill also proposes consumptive use of wildlife, for example hunting, capture of live animals and non-consumptive use such as game viewing and photographic tourism. The Bill also proposes for issuance of licences and permits. Clause 37 empowers the minister to establish Hunting Blocks Advisory Committee.

House endorses revocation of hunting...

2009-01-31 11:30:26
By Lydia Shekighenda, Dodoma


The National Assembly yesterday endorsed the revocation of the three-year extension of hunting terms granted to hunting companies in the country because they contravened the resolutions approved by the 11th meeting of the august House.

The House wants the reallocation process to be completed in 2010 and not 2012 as proposed by the Natural Resources and Tourism ministry.

Moving a private motion here yesterday, Kwela MP Chrisant Mzindakaya said failure by the government to implement the resolutions was in breach of parliamentary rights.

His motion was against the government statement tabled in the House on Thursday by Natural Resources and Tourism minister Shamsa Mwangunga, which only explained why the government was yet to implement the resolutions as directed.

During the 11th parliamentary meeting, MPs recommended that the government reallocate and set new charges for hunting blocks whose term of ownership would lapse this year, but the government instead extended the hunting terms to 2012.

Mzindakaya argued that failure to implement the House resolutions meant defending the interests of the hunting firms through the Tanzania Hunting Operators Association.

``Any act by the government to intervene in the process of the implementation of parliamentary resolutions on the reallocation of the hunting blocks means interfering with the parliamentary powers and breaching its rights,`` he said.

In her response, Mwangunga apologised for not informing the House about the decision to extend the hunting terms.

She said she took it for granted that informing the parliamentary committee on natural resources was enough to push the decision through.

Contributing to the motion, Kigoma North legislator Zitto Kabwe said the government had breached parliamentary rights and not taken into consideration the fate of the country`s national resources.

He said a report on Tanzania`s economy showed that the tourism sector contributed 15bn/- to the national income in 2006 and only 7bn/- in 2007.

Kabwe said cancelling the extension would not cause a loss because even the revenue generated was not much and could be recovered from other sectors.

Kishapu legislator Fred Mpendazoe warned that the giving of simplistic answers given to serious issues had made many African countries fail to develop, adding: ``The government is supposed to be accountable to Parliament.``

The MP demanded that a government leader who went against Parliament’s directives should not bother with explanations but should instead submit a resignation letter.

Explaining the delay, minister Mwangunga said the government was trying to avoid negative effects during the preparation of the new law that also covered revenue losses.

SOURCE: Guardian

If Tanzania don't do something to stop the poaching it won't matter what else they do. Having been there only twice I may not be real qualified to speak on this. However I've seen enough to realize the problem is about like illegal immigration is here in the states.

Can someone please clarify the following for me.

1. Is this about the rate increase for the concessions that has been posted here last year?

2. Is my understanding correct that concessions from the government are paid for in the range of 18,000 - $50,000 after the increase?

3. These very same concessions are being "sold" for several million dollars by some of the holders.

4. What does the Tanzanian government do about poaching?

I have hunted in Selous several times, and I have hunted concessions out of the Selous.

Poaching seems to be rampant, and from the look of things, very little is done about it except by the concession holders. Even then they are restricted, as their patrols are not allowed to be armed, so they pay for a government scout to go along with his rifle.

These same government scouts sometimes refuse to go to certain areas, fearing reprisals against them and their families.

Where's Bwanamich on this one? What's the deal Bwanamich?

Brett

Gentlemen,
It is premature for me to make any detailed comments on the going on as there is a lot of work going on in the background. The whole affair has turned into a complicated political affair. The MP that raised the private motion, Mzindakaya, has interests in the industry being a registered outfitter himself with hunting blocks. In the past, Mzindakaya was the "partner" of the infamous Van der Meulen scandal. his current blocks are worth S**t and hence his attempt to distabilize the industry in order to try and get his "greasy" fingers on others blocks. Below is a paper article from today:
MZINDAKAYA`S MOTION ON HUNTING INDUSTRY:Conflict of interest?




NATURE`S BLISS -- Swiss tourists enjoy fresh coconut juice along Jamhuri Street in Dar es Salaam yesterday. Experts say coconut juice is one of the highest sources of electrolytes known to man, and can be used to prevent dehydration, for instance in cases of diarrhea or strenuous exercise, instead of a sports drink.
THISDAY REPORTER
Dar es Salaam

NEW questions have been raised about the motion tabled last week by the Kwela Member of Parliament, Chrisant Mzindakaya, on the country’s tourist hunting industry.

Industry sources say the MP had an inherent conflict of interest when he demanded that the government should reverse a previous decision that extended the hunting term given to the Tanzania Hunting Operators Association (TAHOA) to 2012.

There are suggestions that Mzindakaya breached parliamentary regulations by failing to disclose his financial interests in the country’s hunting industry.

Section 49 (7) of parliamentary regulations on rules of debates stipulates that: ’’A Member shall not speak on any matter in which he has personal pecuniary (financial) interest, except after disclosing the nature and extent of that interest.’’

In 1996, Mzindakaya and a South African national, David van de Muelen, took over Tanzania Hunting Safaris Limited.

A year later (1997), Mzindakaya and van de Muelen attended the Safari Club International Convention in Nevada, USA, where they are reported to have sold safaris to American clients.

Later, David van de Muelen went into hiding taking away all Trophy fees for 1996 and clients’ deposits for 1997 causing hundreds of thousands of dollars loss to the government and clients. The government was forced to release trophies to clients without being paid a single cent.

’’As if that was not enough, Hon. Mzindakaya through another company -- the Sumbawanga-based Milanzi Wild Animals Zoo and Tours -- was allocated the Swagaswaga Hunting Block,’’ said an industry source.

’’It is a known fact that he kept that block until the end of 2008 without properly utilizing it, causing thousands of dollars loss to the government,’’ he explained.

A well-placed parliamentary source told THISDAY: ’’Mzindakaya is known to be involved in tourist hunting activities in Tanzania. Therefore, before tabling his motion, he was required by law to declare his interests.’’

He added: ’’By failing to disclose his financial interests in hunting activities, the MP clearly flouted parliamentary regulations.’’

Mzindakaya was yesterday not immediately available to comment about the conflict of interest claims, but he was quoted by media reports as saying he was fighting for national interests.

Mzindakaya, who has somewhat of a reputation for dropping political ’bombshells’ in Parliament, has made some rather controversial remarks inside Bunge in recent years.

During last year’s 2008/09 marathon parliamentary budget session, the MP controversially opposed a motion by opposition lawmakers against the misappropriation of funds from the Bank of Tanzania’s external payment arrears (EPA) corruption scandal, who also called for the resignation of former BoT Governor Dr Daudi Ballali.

He made the remarks in defence of the central bank without publicly declaring that he was among businessmen who were beneficiaries of billions of shillings from financial institutions under the BoT’s guarantee.

These include Sumbawanga Agricultural and Animal Food Industries Limited (SAAFI) that got a loan of 9.7bn/- from Standard Chartered Bank in 2004, thanks to a guarantee from the BoT, whose primary function is to safeguard the country’s economy.

THISDAY had independently verified that Mzindakaya is linked to SAAFI company, a new, ultra-modern meat-processing company set up through a long-term loan guaranteed by the BoT itself.

’’...If there are serious issues that MPs are supposed to raise, I think it is not enough to speak about issues that emerged from the Internet and consider them as evidence because some of the issues that some of us know were gained from our own research,’’ said Mzindakaya during last year’s budget session while fiercely criticizing the opposition camp’s EPA allegations.

He added: ’’First of all, the figures quoted by the opposition camp are wrong. The actual figure (of misappropriated funds) is not $200m, but $133m ... These are the accurate statistics.

Mzindakaya criticized corruption allegations on the EPA scandal presented by the Secretary-General of the opposition CHADEMA party, Dr Wilbrod Slaa, without mentioning that he was actually the beneficiary of a hefty BoT-guaranteed loan.

’’It was evident that his motion was against parliamentary regulations, when he admitted that he got a loan guaranteed by the BoT,’’ said another parliamentary source.

After withdrawing the private member’s motion regarding corruption within the BoT that he planned to present before Parliament at the end of last year, Dr Slaa and other opposition leaders announced the names of 11 public officials implicated in corruption allegations with the said financial institution in the ’List of Shame’ unveiled at the Mwembe Yanga public rally in Temeke District, Dar es Salaam.

The government has since been forced to carry out an investigation regarding claims of rampant corruption within the BoT.

An audit conducted by the international auditing firm, Ernst & Young, in collaboration with the government’s chief auditor, later unveiled the misappropriation of $133m in the EPA account by several businessmen using ’ghost’ companies.

quote:

Originally posted by Saeed:
Can someone please clarify the following for me.

1. Is this about the rate increase for the concessions that has been posted here last year?

2. Is my understanding correct that concessions from the government are paid for in the range of 18,000 - $50,000 after the increase?

3. These very same concessions are being "sold" for several million dollars by some of the holders.

4. What does the Tanzanian government do about poaching?

I have hunted in Selous several times, and I have hunted concessions out of the Selous.

Poaching seems to be rampant, and from the look of things, very little is done about it except by the concession holders. Even then they are restricted, as their patrols are not allowed to be armed, so they pay for a government scout to go along with his rifle.

These same government scouts sometimes refuse to go to certain areas, fearing reprisals against them and their families.

1- No this is about block re allocation at the end fo the current hunting term 2009
2- All hunting concessions in Tz are $27,000 per year for hunting and $30,000 for both hunting and photo.
3- Not for millions but for alot more than the officials. Sub-leasing of blocks, by the way, is illegal but rampant. It is being looked into and offenders will hopefully be prosecuted.
4- Very little due to insufficient funding, expertise, motivation, personnel, etc. More is done in National Parks as they have a different funding system whereby they may retain 100% of revenue generated. Game reserves and open areas which constitute 100% of hunting blocks retain less than 25% for budget purposes.

Bunge resumes today
JAPHET SANGA in Dodoma
Daily News; Sunday,February 01, 2009 @21:15


A hot debate on the Wildlife Conservation Bill, 2008 is one item expected in the National Assembly this morning as the 14th session resumes after a weekend recess. The Bill was tabled for second reading by the Minister for Tourism and Natural Resources, Ms Shamsa Mwangunga, last Friday, prompting scores of legislators wanting to debate it.

Basically, the bill seeks to repeal the Wildlife Conservation Act Cap. 283 by making better provisions for the conservation, management, protection and sustainable utilization of wildlife and its products. The Wildlife Conservation Act was enacted in 1974 and it provides for the protection, conservation, development, regulations and control of flora and fauna products.

Debating the bill last Friday, Iramba West legislator Mr Mgana Msindai (CCM) and Mr Hasnain Dewji (CCM-Kilwa South) wanted the government to recruit more game wardens to curb poaching. "There is an urgent need to engage more game wardens, including village scouts if we are really serious on wildlife protection," said Mr Msindai, a retired wildlife personnel himself.

He said it was unfortunate that wildlife protection had been left to tourist hunting companies that operate hunting blocks, a responsibility that should have been for the government.
The Kilwa South Member of Parliament (MP), Mr Dewji, said the compensation fee for people mauled by wildlife was a pittance and ought to be raised to a 'reasonable amount.'

Kilombero MP Mr Castor Ligalama (CCM) argued that districts within game reserves or national parks should also be entitled to annual revenue of 200,000 US dollars, just like districts within mining areas. Bills that the House has endorsed so far are the Public Health Bill, 2008, the Standards Bill, the Written Laws Bill and the Tanzania Trade Development Bill, all of 2008. According to the National Assembly information officers, this parliamentary session runs until February 11.

MPs demand powerful wildlife body
Dailynews Reporter
Daily News; Monday,February 02, 2009 @21:15


Legislators have asked the Wildlife Department to be elevated to an autonomous authority, to give it more clout in protection and management of the game than is the case now.
Members of Parliament for Mpanda Central, Mr Said Arfi (Chadema) and Ms Halima Mdee (Chadema-Special Seats), said here yesterday that upgrading the department would enhance management of the sub-sector.

The MPs who were debating the Wildlife Conservation Bill, 2008 in the National Assembly, said the elevation would mean more autonomy, just like is the case with the Ngorongoro Conservation Area Authority (NCAA) and the Tanzania National Parks Authority (TANAPA).

Debating the same Bill last week, Iramba East MP, Mr Mgana Msindai (CCM), said it was high time the government elevated the department to an authority, so that it had its own funds to protect wildlife than depending on handouts from the Treasury.

Sources within the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism also espoused the proposal, saying while the department needed 6bn/- for protection and management of wildlife last year, it only secured 3bn/-. The elevation, therefore, would imply the Authority can manage its own funds accrued from game reserves and controlled areas to purchase vehicles, equip game wardens and the anti-poaching unit.

Currently, the Wildlife Department has a dearth of game wardens, scouts, vehicles and other equipment to effectively oversee protection and management of wildlife. On the human-wildlife conflict, several MPs have asked the consolation amount of 200,000/- given to families of victims who have suffered loss of life, crops or injury caused by dangerous animals be increased.

Mr Hassan Kigwalilo (CCM-Liwale), Mr John Cheyo (UDP-Bariadi East), Ms Estherina Kilasi (CCM-Mbarali) and Mr John Lwanji (CCM-Manyoni West), said the amount was a mockery in relation to gravity of loss. "It appears our country values wildlife more than human beings. Many people have been injured and killed by wildlife in Liwale District, with the ministry doing nothing. "There's need to increase the consolation amount. The current figure is not realistic," lamented Mr Kigwalilo.

He called for trimming of the excessive powers vested on the Director of Wildlife, saying the Bill gave the director and the minister so much powers in wildlife management like allocation of hunting blocks. The Wildlife Conservation Bill, 2008, tabled for second reading in the House on Thursday by the Minister for Tourism and Natural Resources, Ms Shamsa Mwangunga, proposes for the repeal of the Wildlife Conservation Act 1974 (Cap 283). The House was expected to endorse the Bill yesterday.

Wildlife conservation law favours...

2009-02-03 10:43:36
By Lydia Shekighenda, Dodoma


Members of Parliament have criticised the wildlife conservation bill tabled in the National Assembly last week, saying it favours foreigners at the expense of Tanzanians.

Debating the bill, which was tabled by Natural Resources and Tourism minister Shamsha Mwangunga, the legislators said it had many pitfalls which must be addressed before it is passed into law.

The bill seeks to repeal Chapter 23 of the Wildlife Conservation Act, currently in use, and MPs argue that it would cause problems to people and the country`s natural resources if enacted.

Liwale MP Hassan Kigwalilo (CCM) declared that he would not endorse it ``for the simple reason that it is not fair to local Tanzanians, particularly with respect to compensation in the event of people being killed or injured or crops being destroyed by wild animals``.

Meanwhile, John Cheyo (Bariadi East - UDP) called on the government to come up with a bill which would allow people losing their relatives or their crops in attacks by wild animals to be compensated according to the magnitude of the losses incurred.

Estherina Kilasi (Mbarali - CCM) concurred, noting that the law currently in use gives more protection to wild animals than to residents of areas surrounding wildlife reserves.

She said the compensation paid to victims of attacks by wild animals was too little relative to the seriousness of the losses incurred and urged the government to offer a fairer amount.

Other legislators unhappy with the amount of compensation included John Lwanji (Manyoni West - CCM), Halima Mdee (Chadema - Special Seats) and Abdallah Mtutura (Tunduru ` CCM).

Contributing to debate on the bill, Aloyce Kimaro (Vunjo ` CCM) said he would never sit idly by as the country`s natural and other resources benefited only a few people.

He said the ministry`s wildlife department had been working under pressure of foreigners owning hunting blocks ``but who are not genuine investors but looters of our natural resources``.

Mtutura said people whose crops were destroyed by wild animals have generally been ending up with meager compensation not reflecting the actual value of their property.

He cited other weaknesses in the bill as the inclusion of a clause stipulating that anyone found in national parks and wildlife reserves was guilty until proved innocent.

But minister Mwangunga defended the bill, saying it was meant to overcome challenges such as conflicts involving wildlife conservation areas and land inhabited or otherwise used by local residents.
Debate on the bill continues today.

SOURCE: Guardian

Patience, Patience.

As I said, this is all political manouvering by certain parliamentarians. I honestly believe the extensions will stick and that the Minister's decision will be accepted.

Rumor has it that 30 new hunting companies have been registered lately and are waiting in line for one of the "89" new blocks that that idiot MP recommended in the first article.

Loss of life solace by wild animals reaches 1m/-
Dailynews Reporter
Daily News; Wednesday,February 04, 2009 @21:15


The government has finally acceded to legislators' demands to raise the consolation amount paid to persons who have suffered loss of life caused by wild animals from 200,000/- to 1m/-.
Winding up debate of the Wildlife Conservation Bill, 2008 in the National Assembly here on Tuesday, the Minister for Natural Resources and Tourism, Ms Shamsa Mwangunga, said the injured will be given 500,000/- for treatment.

The minister, whose Bill drew scores of debaters in the House, said the consolation amount should, however, not be seen as compensation, as human life could not be equated in monetary value. She further told the House that those persons who suffer loss of crops from destruction by wild animals, would be compensated between 50,000/- to 100,000/- per one hectare.

Ms Mwangunga also allayed fears that the para-military unit to be established would not irresponsibly kill villagers who stray into game reserves, saying the unit would be highly disciplined. On tourist hunting, Ms Mwangunga said her ministry was keen to encourage Tanzanians into the sub-sector, explaining that the government was interested to see full participation of locals in the industry. The National Assembly passed the Bill on Tuesday