Natural Resources and Tourism minister Ezekiel Maige

Natural Resources and Tourism minister Ezekiel Maige has urged religious leaders in the country to support the government and other stakeholders in fighting against smugglers of natural resources.

He made the call recently here in his speech read on his behalf by Tanzania National Parks (Tanapa) director general Allan Kijazi at a fund raising event hosted by the Elim Pentecostal Church in Tanzania.

Maige said natural resources should benefit the present and coming generations, therefore in order for the resources to be sustainable, Tanzanians must participate fully and effectively in natural resources conservation processes.

He further said since religious leaders were very close to the people in their communities, it would be better for them to remind their followers the importance of respecting and protect natural resources.

The Minister said even in the Christian’s holy Bible it’s stated in the Book of Genesis that when God created all things, including natural resources, the latter were handled over to the first human being on earth, Adam and instructed him (Adam) to protect them.

He stressed that the issue of protecting natural resources has been derived from God's order and specific directives for human creatures, particularly human beings, to do their best in keeping them.

Maige said that the government would continue establishing close and good relationships with religious leaders and other stakeholders for the two parties to collaborate in preserving the environment and other natural resources.

Earlier, retired archbishop of the Church in the country Rev Steven Mwayahila said, "I am happy to day to see that the guest of honour here is the one who is in charge of all wildlife national parks in Tanzania. I like animals and I always watch different documentaries on lives of wildlife”.

More than 30m/- was raised. Maige and his friends contributed about 10m/- and Kijazi contributed 5m/-.