MINISTER for Natural Resources and Tourism, Mohamed Mchengerwa, has directed the Permanent Secretary in his ministry to establish a special directorate on poaching that will be reporting directly to him in efforts to boost anti-poaching campaign.
The minister appointed Deputy Commissioner, John Nyamhanga as acting Director of the envisaged directorate.
Speaking here during the official launching of a special national strategy for fighting poaching and another strategy for management of community wildlife areas, Mr Mchengerwa said that he purposely decided that the directorate be introduced so that all events related to poaching were directly being reported to him.
“Poaching business is involving a large curtail of bigwigs including top leaders politicians and other popular figures,” he added.
He directed that the Acting boss of the expected directorate should report immediately in his office so that he and the minister can fine-tune the immediate strategies to combat poaching.
“I have made this decision because this business is being done by popular people including public servants in this ministry, therefore, for me to have clear information on this, the director should report direct to my office to avoid challenges in getting proper information,” said Mr Mchengerwa.
He elaborated that the target was to make sure that not even a single government trophy was being smuggled at border points or outside the country, adding that the ministry was well prepared to intensifying intelligence information regarding poachers.
Apart from that, the Minister asked all Tanzanians or any person dealing with the illegal business to stop immediately, insisting that stern legal actions would be instituted to all regardless of their titles in the country.
Earlier in his remarks to welcome the minister, Permanent Secretary (PS) in the ministry, Dr Hassan Abbas said that poachers were not brave enough to win efforts by the government, insisting that they were weak to be well confronted.
As the government continues to intensify efforts to curb the vice, I wish to ask the entire community to collaborate with us so that we can totally end poaching.
At the event, the Director of Wildlife in the ministry, Dr Maurus Msuha said the two launched strategies would intensify war against poachers.
According to him, the strategies would cost a total of US Dollars 196,454, insisting that they would help to solve available challenges in community wildlife areas in the country.
