With Internet, fraud shall be tamed

Local Tanzania media had recently been talking about Department of Wildlife systematic plunder. Big names were being mentioned, the matter arose in the Parliament. Whoever the source of well-informed anonymous dossier that reached multitudes of online Tanzanians near and far, the recent changing taking place in that ministry are not entirely separated from that news, I daresay.

Daily News, Thursday,July 26, 2007 @00:02


THE government has raised game hunting fees this fiscal year as part of efforts to boost revenue from tourism and ensure greater contribution of the sector to Gross Domestic Product (GDP), currently standing at 17 per cent only.


Tabling the Ministry of Tourism and Natural Resources budget estimates for 2007/8 in the National Assembly here yesterday, the Minister, Professor Jumanne Maghembe, said that the new rates were aimed at aligning the fees with the rest of the 14- member SADC states, of which Tanzania is a founding member.



"Under the new fees, hunting a lion or a leopard, for example, will cost $12,000 (about 12.5million/-) compared to the previous dollars 2,500(about 3m/-)," he said.



The licence to kill a jumbo will now be dollars 15,000 instead of dollars 5,000 whereas a crocodile will cost dollars 2,500 instead of dollars 1,050 previously.



"The rates for leasing hunting blocs have been raised from dollars 10,000(near parks --category A) to dollars 50,000 and dollars 40,000 for blocs near forests(category B) per annum. The amendments are expected to raise the income from 11bn/- last year to $33bn/- this year," said Mr Maghembe.



Prof. Maghembe said plans were underway to prepare new General Management Plans (GMP) for some selected forests, adding that Usangu forests would be merged with the Ruaha Park , to create Africa's second biggest park with 22,226 square kilometres.



The ministry will bring bills to establish Mkomazi Park and another park on Saanane Island, near Mwanza on Lake Victoria.



To increase efficiency in park fees collection, the Tanzania National Parks Authority (TANAPA) will introduce system of payment through credit cards. The CRDB and Exim banks have been engaged to ensure verification and collection of payments.



The minister added that the government's determination to attract 1.2 million tourists by 2012 was on course, saying that massive publicity and marketing drive was underway to promote Tanzania's world famous attractions. About 600,000 tourists, mainly from the western countries visited the country last year.



Prof. Maghembe said a Bill on wildlife regulations was being prepared to allow establishments of ranches , zoos and a law on commercialisation of live animals.



The government also plans to increase price of logs by at least 30 per cent to match with the global market price. The increase will fetch the government 45bn/- from the current 11bn/-.



He said the ban on exports of timber remained intact and that all those involved in smuggling are being dealt with at appropriate levels.



The ministry is also working out ways of reviving the beekeeping industry and the first step towards that goal was the re-establishment of the Beekeeping College in Tabora.



About 400m/- has been set aside in the budget to rehabilitate the college's buildings.



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Daily News, Thursday,July 26, 2007 @00:02


THE High Court's Commercial Division has restrained Member of Parliament (MP), Mrs Halima Mohamed Mamuya, from dealing with tourist hunting activities in the name of Morogoro Hunting Safaris Limited, which operates in Southern Tanzania.



Judge Bernard Luanda issued the temporary order yesterday after considering an application and submissions made by advocate Deusdedith Dankan on behalf of the company.



The judge further stopped the Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) MP under Women Special Seats, her agents, heirs or any person acting under her instructions from entering Sasawala Hunting Block located in Ruvuma Region, which is the lawful asset of the company.



Judge Luanda, however, ruled that the said temporary order would remain in force for six months from yesterday pending determination of the main suit lodged by Mrs Mamuya, who is demanding 350m/- damages from the company. The suit will be mentioned on September 3.



In the suit, the MP is also challenging her termination of membership from the company. Before institution of the suit last year, Mrs Mamuya was a director holding 8,518 shares. Other directors were Mr Jamal Abdallah Suleiman and Mr Alli Ahmed Saeed holding 8,519 and 8,518 shares, respectively.



The company disputes the MP is a shareholder, a director or its managing director. The current directors and shareholders are shown as Mr Suleiman, Mr Mohamed Jamal Abdallah and Mr Ahmed Jamal Abdallah.



The directors want the court to declare Mrs Mamuya as unlawfully interfering with their company and in a counter claim want her to pay them 200m/- damages for unlawfully utilising the company's assets and interference with its business.



It is alleged that Mrs Mamuya, Mr Suleiman and Mr Saeed formed the company in 2003 for the purposes of carring on business of, among others, light and big game professional hunters, export of trophies, stuffed animals and deal with business of tour guides and tourist consultants, trappers and mini-zoo keepers.