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Govt loses 76.8bn/- to corrupt foreign hunting firms, ministry officials
2008-04-25 10:17:58
By Judica Tarimo, Dodoma
The government is losing 76.8bn/- annually in the hunting sector because of collusion and corruption by foreign hunting companies and Ministry of Tourism and Natural Resources officials, Kwela MP Dr Christant Nzindakaya, told the House.
Moving a private motion, which was widely supported by several MPs on hunting sector, he said the loss is partly triggered by chronic collusion by foreign hunting firms and the ministry`s officials.
``The hunting sector is run by a few private (foreigners) as a cartel with Wildlife Division officials who have adopted command control system and benefit from the system,`` said Mzindakaya.
The motion was one of the controversial private ones lined-up for tabling yesterday by individual MPs and later on discussed by the House as part of recent reforms to shape-up the conduct and general operations of one of the three state pillars.
Kwela legislator confined his scrutiny that resulted into the 76.8bn/- loss, to 80 only out of 150 hunting blocks in the country.
He blasted the ministry for inequitable allocation of hunting blocks, giving the lions-shares to foreign-owned hunting companies at the neglect of indigenous Tanzanians.
With supportive figures, he said, 12 foreign firms were given 57 prime hunting blocks out of the total 146 blocks allocated in 2006, with each company owning
on average five.
During the period under review, 10 local companies owned only 16 hunting blocks in prime-hunting areas, with an average holding two blocks per company.
``Ministry and Wildlife officials are corrupt and selfish…they collude with foreign companies in the allocation processes of blocks. Operators and managers of the industry shun publicity and many key elements of the industry are shrouded in secrecy,`` said the MP.
The MP criticised hunting umbrella organisation, Tanzania Hunting Operators Association (TAHOA) as an exclusive association formed to protect vested interests of a minority segment of people in the industry.
``It (TAHOA) does not provide equitable forum for Tanzanians to participate fully in the sector,`` he noted.
``The Wildlife Conservation Act No. 12 of 1974,`` he added, ``does not specifically provide adequate room for community-based participation in wildlife management.``
The Act, according to the legislators, gives too much responsibility and power to the Director of Wildlife in all aspects of wildlife management.
``The wildlife Policy of 1988 is outdated and lacks a management plan. A revised draft policy submitted in January 1995 was signed by the Director of Wildlife but is
not implemented,`` said Kwela MP.
``Generally, the hunting industry is full of collusions and corruption, dominated by foreigners who earn billions of money and invest in their own, with Tanzanians and their government left with nothing,`` said the legislator.
Contributing, Mgana Msindai (Iramba-East) said the whole hunting sector has been run by a few government officials and foreign companies.
``There are some ministry and
government officials who own hunting blocks through other firms. These are some of the things that corrupted and destroyed the country`s hunting industry,`` he said.
Many hunting blocks had been allocated to foreigners, as they are given even ``open areas`` which were reserved for domestic hunting by locals, contrary to procedures
and regulations governing the sector.
``At one time I tried to raise questions on these dirty practices, but I was secretly called and licensed on the ground that the blocks I questioned were owned by
a person who had connection with the French Government. I was told that if I questioned the blocks, the Tanzania would be denied financial assistance by France…that\'s ridiculous,`` said Msindai.
``My friends, the sector is facing a big crisis…foreigners are amassing these resources. The government does not benefit from the sector…Tanzanians too don`t benefit from it,`` stressed the MP.
Prof. Raphael Mwalyosi (Ludewa, CCM) criticised the government for lack of accurate figures and statistics on trophies.
``Hunting blocks are allocated randomly. I would say the sector and allocation processes are not progressive…it`s difficult to develop the industry if I one doesn`t have specific figures and statistics of the trophies, identified the number of blocks available, and set modalities for allocation,`` said the legislator.
Aziza Ally (Special-Seats, CCM) said the ministry of tourism had failed to implement new hunting tariff presented for approval in Parliament last year by the former Minister of Tourism and Natural Resources, Prof. Jumanne Maghembe.
``The Parliament passed high fees for hunting blocks, but the ministry is charging low fees…we need detailed explanation why Parliament endorsed certain fees for hunting blocks but the ministry charges different tariffs,`` said the MP.
Ulanga-North legislator Dr Juma Ngasongwa (CCM) said local companies should be given special consideration in the allocation of hunting blocks as part of the implementation of the government economic-empowerment strategies.
``Why are we giving `open areas` to foreigners instead of locals. Our mission to economically empower Tanzanians will not work if we keep on allocating many
blocks to foreigners than locals,`` said Ngasogwa.
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