Mpango decries illegal livestock importation

VICE-PRESIDENT Dr Philip Mpango has directed the security and defence organs to track down the owners of livestock that have been illegally brought into the country    and caused deaths and adverse effects on the environment.

He issued the directive on Saturday at an event to launch the Mama Samia Legal Aid Campaign in Ruvuma Region at Maji Maji grounds in Songea Municipality.

“Many livestock from nearby countries have been smuggled into the region, particularly in Tunduru District, by some livestock owners working with several local leaders and police officers.

“As per reports, livestock are transported by trucks at night while being guarded by dishonest police officers, who are paid between 100,000/- and 120,000/- for one cow,” he said.

According to Dr Mpango, there are estimated 10 elephant-related fatalities and 20 elephant-related injuries per year in the Ruvuma Region, but there is also a threat to public safety since herders from other nations bring their livestock into the vicinity to graze illegally.

Serious consequences of the matter, according to him, include damage to the environment because many forest areas have been destroyed, conflicts between   farmers and herders, resulting in crop destruction, livestock loss, and human injuries or deaths.

The VP further instructed the Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries and the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Human Settlement Development to coordinate their efforts and treat the situation as an emergency in order to identify and survey cattle feed blocks and livestock farms where herders must construct water dams.

Dr Mpango advised the general public to think about protecting environment by planting trees, caring for water sources, and preventing careless forest fires.

Tanzania has ample land, according to Dr Mpango, but it is crucial that the local authorities closely supervise the land use plan and take enforcement action against anyone found to be destroying environment.

To end herders-farmers conflicts in the country, Ms Prisca Kaponda, Secretary of the Association of Livestock Keepers in Tanzania, stated last year that the association would continue to educate its members on the best land management practices.

The Police Force, through the Stock Theft Preventive Unit (STPU) in the country, arrested 1,942 suspects of livestock theft from January to December 2022.

The Vice-President, additionally, stated that in order to prevent interference with and invasion of protected areas, the Ministry of Land, Housing and Human Settlements Development should work in conjunction with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism to identify and define boundaries for all protected areas.

“But, the ministry should also pay the appropriate compensation for all the areas taken in accordance with the law,” he added.

Measures taken by the government to handle land conflicts between national reserves and residents include creating a national committee of eight ministers to resolve land disputes in the country.

The government manages legally protected areas with a size of approximately 307,800 square kilometres, equal to 32.5 per cent of the country’s total area.

These areas include 22 national parks, the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, 29 reserve forests, 38 community wildlife reserves, three wetlands under the Ramsar Site Convention, and 465 natural forest reserves, 20 natural forest reserves, 24 government tree farms, 10 bee reserves, 133 archaeological sites, and seven National Museum centres.