The government 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.
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.
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