Logging sanctioned
 
2005-07-16 08:23:32
By Lusekelo Philemon

	A lorry loaded with logs leaves Rufiji District last week.( Photo: Omar Fungo)

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism says the harvesting of trees in Rufiji forests has the blessings of the government.

A statement issued by the ministry yesterday in response to a story carried by this paper on Tuesday, the government, through, the Premanent Secretary in the ministry, Philemon Odunga said it had visited Kibiti, Ikwiriri, Utete and Nyamwage village to ascertain the validity of the allegations of illegal logging as reported in our story.

“It has come to light that the harvesting of logs and other forest products in the district is done by companies that have been licensed by the ministry. The companies include those that collect logs felled before the ban was imposed last year.

Wood processing factories in the area have also been issued with licences to harvest logs,’’ the statement said.

It added that three factories have been permitted to harvest fresh logs. These are Badr East Africa (T) Ltd, Portfolio Investment Ltd and Alvasis Sawmill.

’’It is true that some people have been harvesting fresh logs without permits from the ministry. Some have been arrested and prosecuted. Their cases are being handled by Kibiti and Utete courts,’’ the statement said.

The ministry said that all the logs transported to Dar es Salaam from the district are old ones and businessmen paid for them.

According to the statement, there are five sawmills in Ikwiriri ’’all of which have not violated any regulations governing their business.’’

The millers are Badr East Africa(T) Ltd, Mohmoud International, Alvasis Sawmill, Portfolio Investment and Mhavile Enterprises.

During the visit, the PS and his delegation held a meeting with Nyamwage village administrators. Also present were leaders from Mbwara and Nyamwage wards officials.

’’It was evident from the meeting that the villagers were not aware that millers in the area had been issued with permits to harvest fresh logs and so thought that illegal harvesting was going on. The matter was clarified and they now know what is going on,’’ the statement said.

The statement said further that, there was also suspicion among the villagers on the legality of logging by Badr East Africa (T) Ltd as they did not know the company’s origin.

’’The village government demanded that the company should pay levy to the village because they cut the logs from their forests.

However, the company produced documents, which indicated that it harvested the logs from forests in Mbwara village.

The documents included minutes of a meeting held between the village and company officials and receipts indicating the amount of levy paid to Mbwara village,’’ the statement said.

The ministry thanked the media for exposing what is going on in various parts of the country regarding sustainable harvesting of natural resources.

However, it cautioned them to seek clarification whenever there was something controversial.

• SOURCE: Guardian