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Over 11bn/- paid as wildlife damage compensation

The government has provided 11.85bn/- to pay people whose crops were destroyed by wildlife from 2017/2018 to March 2024
Deputy minister for Natural Resources and Tourism

DODOMA: The government has provided 11.85bn/- to pay people whose crops were destroyed by wildlife from 2017/2018 to March 2024, the deputy minister for Natural Resources and Tourism, Dunstan Kitandula said yesterday.

Mr Kitandula was responding to a question by Special Seats MP, Naghenjwa Kaboyoka who wanted to know the amount of money paid by the government in compensation to farmers and other citizens whose properties have been destroyed by wildlife in recent years.

She said animals especially jumbos have been invading farms and people’s home causing damages and endangering Tanzanians lives.

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“I would like to know how much the government has so far paid in compensation to the victims and if there are strategies in place to curb this situation,” she said.

The MP also said the amount paid in compensation by the government was too little compared to the loss caused by animals.

“It is obvious these animals are causing poverty to our fellow farmers, the money paid back in compensation is too little compared to the damaged crops or other properties, I would like to hear from the government, what it is doing to increase the amount of money paid to these victims,” she asked.

Mr Kitandula told the National Assembly that apart from paying money, the government was taking measures to stop animals from invading people’s residents.

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He said the government has established more centres for game rangers and providing more trainings to the officials.

He said awareness education has been provided to the citizens and using electronic devices to track animals and identify their locations.

Moreover, Mr Kitandula said his Ministry has already made review on the amount of money paid to the victims and that it has presented the new rates to the Ministry of Finance for approval.

“We understand that the money, which we pay to the victims are not enough.The rates were passed many years ago, therefore in recognition of this problem, the Ministry has made review for new rates, the report has been sent to the Ministry of Finance for further decisions,” he noted.

The deputy minister also asked the district councils’ officials to immediately send report to the Ministry so that the victims could be paid on time.