|
Govt queried on game reserve five star hotel
2008-07-11 09:51:46
By Hannah Mwandoloma, Dodoma
The parliamentary opposition yesterday urged the government to review its policy which allows foreign investors to build five star hotels within national parks.
Giving the opposition`s views on the 2008/2009 budget estimates of the Ministry of Tourism and Natural Resources, Shadow Minister Magdalena Sakaya (CUF-Special Seats) said Tanzanian law did not allow foreigners to own land.
``Foreign investors are supposed to lease land for a fixed period but not to own it as some of them are doing,`` Sakaya said.
She said the opposition was surprised by the government`s decision to allocate a 149 km land area to the Grumeti Reserve investor in Serengeti, Mara Region who had built a hotel within the park.
Sakaya said legislators needed to be educated on procedures that were followed to award land ownership to American investor, Johnes Tudor.
Debating the budget, Moshi Urban legislator Philemon Ndesamburo (CHADEMA) said he did not understand why people should come from outside the country to build tourist hotels as there were citizens who could undertake such business.
``In the real sense, tourists don`t need five star hotels to visit national parks. Most of these big hotels are used by government officials and business people. I believe the best way is to let citizens benefit from their resources,`` Ndesamburo said.
The Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Land, Natural Resources and Environment, Job Ndugai, said there had been claims that foreign hotel owners in the northern circuit were mistreating and discriminating local staff.
``Our committee plans to visit the tourist hotels of Lake Manyara National Park, Ngorongoro, Serengeti and Ikorongo and Grumeti before the next Bunge session,`` said Job Ndugai (CCM- Kongwa).
The Minister for Tourism and Natural Resources, Shamsa Mwangunga tabled the budget estimates for this financial year and asked the House to approve the expenditure of 71,975,518,000/-.
|
