Violation on kihansi territory irks MPs

-


Members of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Industry, Trade and Environment who this week visited Kihansi Catchment --- the home unique Kihansi spray toads, butterfly,  Kihansiensie coffee and Kihansi gorge  --- say have been  appalled by unlimited encroachment on Kihansi territory.
Administratively, the catchment covers Mufindi, Kilolo and Kilombero districts and shelters biodiversity within the Udzungwa Mountains because of the rare habitats that include spray wetlands and montane forest.

Speaking at the end of their tour, Mr Anthony Komu (MP for Moshi Rural) said the members have learnt that only a small part of Kihansi territory is protected from encroachment by farming villagers.
“Only a small fraction of the catchment is protected.  The territory has been left to the mercy and grace of God, enjoying only very casual protection.  The central and district councils must see urgency in having the entire territory protected,” he said.

He said farming has triggered off soil erosion and endangered biodiversity.  Illustrating the dangers of freewheel encroachment using his home Kilimanjaro Region, the MP said “back home rivers are drying up” the region’s slowly swelling population “is now feeling pinch.”

MP Hawa Mwaifunga (Special Seats, Tabora) said Kihansi valley is too beautiful to be left unguarded.  “We have seen and appreciate the importance of protecting this area.  Our responsibility is to campaign for its protection in and outside parliament,” she said adding that the environment fund should be used to enable experts discharge their duties.

The Director General of the National Environment Management Council (NEMC), Dr Vedast Makota,  said research and allied activities in the catchment are undertaken  by indigenous  experts  because, he said, they are the people who truly understand the importance of protecting  Tanzania’s environment.

“We are grateful to the support from Directors of  Kilombero, Mufindi and Mafinga councils.  We have incorporated them in our efforts because they are the ones who will bear the consequences of  the harm done to the valley,” he told the committee.

Ms Amina Kibola, the Kihansi Project Coordinator, said paid tribute to the Office of the Vice-President, the Tanzania Wildlife Research Institute, the universities of Sokoine and Dar es Salaam for researches that  have a lasting bearing on the catchment.

Experts consider Kihansi Catchment to be critical for water resource management and the protection of rare biodiversity.


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Tanzania praised for being keen on fertilisers going to farmers

-
Image
By Abdallah Luambano, Dar es Salaam Yara Tanzania Limited, a local branch of the Norwegian fertiliser-producing company, has praised the government for being strict on fertilisers going to farmers thus protecting growers from receiving fake or bad fertilisers that would otherwise be pushed in the market because of indifference on the part of authorities. Speaking to reporters two days after Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa launched national deliveries operation for taking free Yara fertilisers to registered farmers countrywide, Yara Tanzania Ltd Managing Director, Mr Winstone Odhiambo, commended the government for being very particular on fertilisers being sold to Tanzanian farmers.    He said national institutions entrusted with control of farm inputs researched and satisfied themselves before fertilisers were put into circulation. I am thankful to the government, through the ministry of agriculture, for cooperating with us in implementing our companys initiative...
Read more

Gold mine in Songwe wins ministerial praise for protecting environment

-
Image
From Isdory Njavike in Songwe In a rare government endorsement, Deputy Minister of State in the Vice-President’s Office, (Union and Environment), Mr Musa Sima, congratulated Shanta Mining Company on good management of toxic waste by building a high-quality storage facility in rural Tanzania. Accompanied by environment experts including Chairman of NEMC Board of Directors, Professor Esnati Chaggu, NEMC Director General, Dr Samuel Gwamaka, the deputy minister praised the company for building a reliable facility in rural Tanzania that guarantees protection of environment and living things in Saza area that hosts New Luika gold mine.  The structure is called by experts a tailing storage facility (TSF).  “I congratulate you on putting in place this facility that will ensure the environment is not contaminated by toxic waste from the mine,” the minister said adding that the facility was built based on requirements detailed in the Environmental Management Act...
Read more

NEMC warns on emptying effluent in built-up areas, flood waters

-
Image
NEMC warns on emptying effluent in built-up areas, flood waters By Petter Keasi, Dar es salaam THE National Environment Management Council (NEMC) warned yesterday that people or institutions who will take advantage of current short rains and direct waste matter to flood waters, storm water canals or rivers will be punished severely. NEMC Director General, Dr Samuel Gwamaka, told reporters in Dar es Salaam yesterday the NEMC learned in the past that some reckless people and institutions were directing effluent to moving waters and that contaminated water either ended up in residential areas or in water bodies. “Some irresponsible people secretly take advantage of heavy rains to pour out waste from latrines or factories.  Those doing so are not only breaking the law but they are also endangering other creatures’ lives, harming people’s health and swelling up public health. Culprits will be severely punished,” he warned.    Chemical was...
Read more