SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN Tanzania

Illegal subletting is again centre stage following Kawe’s legislator Halima Mdee call for investigations into yet another hunting company subletting their blocks to a uranium exploring company.

Speaking to this paper in an interview yesterday, the legislator alleged illegal contractual agreement signed between one, Game frontiers limited and an undisclosed uranium exploring company in the Mbarang’andu village of Namtumbo district an area in the Selous game reserve in Ruvuma.

“…the Wildlife Conversation Act of 1974 and the Wildlife Conservation Act Number 5 of 2009 allow a hunting permit to only carry out hunting activities, not otherwise…” she underscored.

She added that in accordance to the land laws of 1999 should a piece of land allocated for other purposes and then later be found to contain minerals then ownership returns to the government or the individual.

Tabling the alternative budget estimates in Parliament recently, Mdee, who is also the Shadow Minister for Lands, Housing and Human settlement Development, alleged Game frontiers limited has entered into contract with Uranium Resources PLC and Western Metals Limited, for uranium exploration in the game range at the cost of USD6m payable in two phases.

Other than the illegality of the contracts, she described what she called ‘unfair’ distribution of disbursed compensations on the part of the hunting company embezzling the villagers share.

“I understand that the village received only USD 10,000 out of USD 6m which the hunting firm agreed with the uranium company…this is not fair…” she complained.

Mdee called on the commission formed by the Ministry of Energy and Minerals to stringently investigate and take due course of action to ensure the villagers get their rightful share.

A tourism stakeholder identified, George Kelvin challenged hunting firms to increase the support given to communities living around game reserves since according to him, what is offered now is but a fraction of the grand value in mineral deposits.

http://allafrica.com/stories/201208120125.html



Tanzania: Kagasheki Targets Game Frontier Hunting Licence


By Finnigan Wa Simbeye, 12 August 2012


Dodom — A HUNTING licence given to Game Frontier of Tanzania Limited to operate in Mbalang'andu village of Namtumbo will likely be withdrawn following violations of regulations after the company did sublet Western Metals and Uranium Resources to undertake mining activities in the block.

Minister for Natural Resources and Tourism, Khamis Kagasheki told parliament while winding up his 2012/13 budget speech that evidence availed to his ministry so far shows that Game Frontier has violated regulations and hence eligible for cancellation of the hunting licence.

"We have demanded for an explanation from this company after which we will take the necessary action because obviously regulations have been violated here," said Ambassador Kagasheki.

The company which is owned by Muhsin and Nargis Abdallah, has allegedly sublet the hunting blocks earning a handsome six million US dollars (approx. 9.42bn/-) while the village gets a mere 10,000 US dollars (approx. 15.7m/-) per annum.

Kagasheki said according to the 2009 Wildlife Act, Game Frontiers have violated regulations because it did not inform the ministry about the decision to sublet the block and change its original land use plan.

"After getting the company's side of the story, we may revoke the hunting licence," said Kagasheki who earned an avalanche of praises from lawmakers for putting up an impressive performance since taking over from former Minister, Ezekiel Maige over two months.

Kawe lawmaker, Halima Mdee (Chadema), told journalists earlier this week that the company is heavily exploiting residents of Namtumbo and violating Selous Game Reserve regulations by encroaching conservation area.

"Let us wait for recommendations from the commission, but our main concern is to see that those villagers benefit from the contract which was signed," Ms Mdee argued while pointing out that the company's actions violate Wildlife Conservation Act No. 5 of 2009.

But in a statement of defence published by the media yesterday, Managing Director of Game Frontiers, Mr Abdallah argued that Mbarang'andu village is an open area which is not part of Selous Game Reserve as alleged by Mdee.

Abdallah said his company signed agreements with Western Metals Limited and Uranium Resources Plc in 2007 who were seeking for uranium prospecting licence in the area, which included part of Mbarang'andu open area under his company.

"Furthermore, the agreement provides that once the prospecting companies have applied for and obtained the uranium mining licence, the companies shall pay us a compensation of six million US dollars because we shall have to close all our operations therein and cede the ground to the mining companies," Abdallah argued.

Abdallah further noted that his company has invested heavily in communities since acquiring Mbarang'andu open area in 1994 by building infrastructure, offering sponsorship to 250 orphans, tractors, trailers and a motor vehicle to support Wildlife Management Area in Namtumbo.

As part of the deal, local communities were also entitled to a 10,000 US dollars payment annually as compensation for loss of access to resources in the area.

Lot's of easy $$ to secure the blocks he wanted in the re-allocation

quote:

Lot's of easy $$ to secure the blocks he wanted in the re-allocation

He always was a law unto himself