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Livestock keepers heed Kikwete’s directive
2006-03-22 07:54:47
By Nico Mwaibale, PST, Mbeya
In the last two weeks massive movement of thousands of goats and cattle from Usangu (Ihefu) wetlands were witnessed as livestock keepers took heed the directive of President Jakaya Kikwete issued early this month for them to relocate their animals.
Confirming the mass movement of the livestock, Mbarali District Commissioner, Gilberth Dololo, said slowly the wetlands would regain their naturality aided by the ongoing rains.
The DC said the wetlands were encroached a few years back without consent from the regional authorities.
President Kikwete ordered the livestock keepers to move out of the wetlands so as to allow conservation.
’’Once more the area is turning green,’’ Dololo said.
A number of livestock keepers were reluctant to obey the directive.
’’The police force in the District will take action sooner than later and evict them once and for all,’’ he said.
Usangu Game Reserve Warden, Roman Massawe, said by last year the reserve had an estimated 1.8 million herds of cattle, out of which 400,000 were concentrated at Ihefu (Wetland) area only.
’’The presence of cattle in the area has caused huge destruction of environment. This has reduced the amount of water flowing to the Great Ruaha River, which serves Mtera dam.
After Kikwete gave the directive, Mbeya Regional Commissioner, John Mwakipesile issued a seven-day ultimatum effective March 8, this year, for the livestock keepers to move voluntarily from the area or be forcefully evicted.
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