Samia Suluhu

State Minister in the Vice President’s Office, Samia Suluhu, has instructed people living and hosting human activities within 60 metres of the Indian Ocean in what are reserved zones, to with immediate effect, demolish their structures before the end of the August.

“What I can tell the members of parliament and the public as well, is that, the government is committed to oust all residents living or undertaking human activities within reserved zones.

Suluhu made the announcement yesterday in parliament as he responded to the basic question by Special seat MP, Leticia Nyerere (Chadema).

The legislator wanted clarification from the government on efforts taken in implementing the Rio+20 plan that outlined sustainable production adaptations that would protect the marine life in the Ocean and Lakes without affecting their potential contribution to economic growth.

“People living in the coast areas have to observe regulations governing the country by freely taking out their structures and stop doing businesses along the reserved area…all houses and structures will be bulldozed…” warned the minister.

Elaborating on actions taken by the government to respond to challenges related to environmental pollution, she said her ministry was preparing a plan that can address climatic changes.

The minister said the move intends to protect the Nation’s precious yet vulnerable coast from degradation by human activities and also to promote the Rio+20 summit, late last month on green living and environment protection recommendations.

The minister explained that her ministry in coordination with the ministry of Land, Housing and Human Settlement Development and that of Tourism and Natural Resources are planning to survey all beaches along the Indian Ocean soon after the parliamentary sessions come to a close in a little over two weeks, August 18th.

Rio+20 Conference is a gathering of world leaders along with thousands of participants from governments, the private sector, NGOs and other groups, who come together to discuss methods to reduce poverty, advance social equity and ensure environmental protection on this our ever more crowded planet.

The conference, which is a United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD) initiative, was organised in pursuance of General Assembly Resolution and took place in Brazil on 20-22 June 2012 marking the 20th anniversary of the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), in Rio de Janeiro, and the 10th anniversary of the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) in Johannesburg.