DODOMA: THE government plans to hire a total of 578 game wardens or conservation officers in 2024/2025 financial year, the National Assembly has been informed.
A game warden, also known as a conservation officer, is a law enforcement professional who protect wildlife and natural resources.
Speaking in Parliament yesterday in Parliameny while responding to the question posed by Tunduru North CCM legislator Hassan Kungu, Deputy Minister for Natural Resources and Tourism Dunstan Kitandula said the ministry will hire such a number of oficers after received the permit from relevant authorities.
The deputy minister said the ministry will hire the officers as part of the efforts to address various challenges, including containing wild aminal attacks carried out by stray wild animals.
Mr Kitandula said increasing the number of game wardens is also necessitated by the spiraling cases of destruction of crops by wild animals.
In his basic question, the Mr Kungu sought the government response on its strategy to deal with the marauding wild animals in Tunduru District.
According to the MP, Tunduru District has 18 wildlife paramilitary officers and 60 Village Game Scouts (VGS) only.
Wildlife paramilitary officers are law enforcement officers who are trained to protect wildlife and the environment.
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They may also be called conservation officers, game wardens, park rangers, or wildlife troopers. Village Game Scouts (VGS) are volunteers who help protect natural resources like wildlife, forests, and fisheries.
They are trained to patrol, investigate, and enforce laws to prevent poaching and other wildlife crimes.
Responding to Mr Kungu’s question, Mr Kitandula said the government plans to increase the number wildlife paramilitary officers to from 18 to 25 and Village Game Scouts from 60 to 80.
He said, apart from increasing the number of officers and game scouts, the ministry will also increase the number of working tools such a vehicles and motorcycles.
Several legislators from rural areas, including CCM Special Seats MP Oliver Semuguruka, complained about wild animals that wreak havoc in their areas, including destroying crops in farms.
Meanwhile, the government has said it is instituting various measures meant to help beekeepers in the country to increase productivity.
Responding to the question posed by Prof Patrick Ndakidemi (CCM- Moshi Rural), Mr Kitandula said one of the measures it has been instituting is to allocate specialists in the field to all district councils for the objective of training beekeepers.
The legislator had earlier sought explanation from the government on plans to help Moshi Rural residents to start beekeeping given the fact that the area has plenty of forests.
He said the specialists are graduates from various colleges including Tabora Beekeeping Training Institute, Sokoine University of Agriculture and the University of Dar es Salaam.
Speaking specifically on efforts being made by the government to help Moshi Rural residents to engage in productive beekeeping, the deputy minister said the government, through the Tanzania Forest Fund – TaFF, started four beekeeping projects in the area at the cost of 32.27m/-.
The projects were handed over to Komakya Secondary School, Jikomboe Group from Komela Village and tree nursery project for Weruweru Secondary School.
Other efforts include starting tree nursery project and encouraging tree planting within Mwika South Ward.
According to the deputy minister, the government, through the Tanzania Forest Fund- TFF) plans to offer 40 beehives and other equipment to Moshi Rural residents this financial year.
