http://allafrica.com/stories/201601041849.html



Tanzania: You're Wrong On Wildlife, Minister Told

By Lucas Liganga


Dar es Salaam — A recent directive by the Deputy Minister for Natural Resources and Tourism, Mr Ramo Makani, to suspend operations to remove cattle from various game and forestry protected areas in the country has received barbed reactions from local wildlife conservation experts who say the move will drastically affect conservation.

Most of the reactions came from working or retired government wildlife professionals who preferred to remain anonymous saying they were not government spokespersons.

A wildlife conservationist who retired recently after working for over 30 years said since the issuance of the directive almost a fortnight ago there were reports that there has been an exodus of cattle into game reserves.

"For conservation stakeholders, the deputy minister's announcement is a suicidal declaration and a death warrant to wildlife in all protected areas," said the retired civil servant.

"It is a stab of a knife in the back of conservation in the whole wildlife conservation range globally. One is not sure if the minister has not opened a can of worms," he added.



With the recent appointment by President John Magufuli of Prof Jumanne Maghembe as new Minister for Natural Resources and Tourism, conservation custodians were confident that he will use his experience, integrity and powers conferred on him by the President to revoke the directive as soon as possible, said the conservationist.

"The earlier this is done, the better. It is a plain cold fact that the economic and livelihood leverage for our country and its people is wildlife," he said.

He said the existence value of wildlife was incalculable and unsurpassed, adding that tourism that was dominantly wildlife based in the country contributed to 17 per cent of Tanzania's GDP, which was more than any sector and has all the prospects for increasing.

He quoted the Wildlife Conservation Act (WCA) No. 5 of 2009 that stated that any person shall not graze any livestock in a game reserve or wetland reserve.

He said the deputy minister needed to take time to wade through the WCA No. 5 of 2009 before discharging his duties, adding: "It is only when there is no law that we can attempt to use commonsense to act."

An associate professor at the Sokoine University of Agriculture in Morogoro said he did not know whether the deputy minister was above the law.

"I doubt whether the minister is conversant with the country's wildlife laws. His directive is a blow to wildlife conservation," said the don who had once worked with the Wildlife Division.

He said experience had shown that livestock keepers who invaded game reserves used poison to kill animals such as lions who posed a threat to their cattle.

Another wildlife professional said livestock keepers will use the directive to invade game protected areas, adding: "Poachers will also use this directive as their golden chance to kill wildlife animals."

"This directive should be reversed without delay before it causes lots of negative impacts," he said, adding that the directive will also demoralise game rangers who spent sleepless nights patrolling the protected areas.