Environment experts to study kunduchi beach stretch and report to VPO

From our Correspondent in Dar es Salaam
A team of environment experts, to be appointed by the NEMC, were yesterday given four days to study causes of serious damage and ruining waves on the coastal stretch where two prominent Dar es Salaam hotels are built and report their findings to the Vice-President’s Office today.
Calling for the expert views on the problem over the weekend, Minister of State in Vice-President’s Office Mussa Zungu   (Union and Environment),  said here that the VPO was aware of the acrimonious relations between managements of the two hotels as a result of the effects of raging waves, but quipped that only  expert views would tell the real causes and suggest  solutions.
The minister visited the area following written complaints by Wellworth Hotels and Lodges, the owner of Kunduchi Hotel, charging that  the protective conservation measures taken by neighbouring White Sand Hotel complicated  the situation and increased gravity of sea devastation on Kunduchi Hotel.  The minister was sceptical, saying he was not sure if that was the case.
“I have come here because we are aware of blames and counter-blames on ravages of the sea that are threatening the existence of your valueless buildings and businesses. The cause of the acrimonious relations might be effects of climate change, not the ones suggested to us.  So only expert views will tell the bona fide causes and propose solutions,” said the minister known for his humour adding, “just come down. I want experts appointed by the National Environment Management Council (NEMC) to study critically the problem and give me their report by Tuesday that suggests interim solutions as we await permanent ones.”
Mr Zungu said effects of climate change were not always overt, arguing that the best approach to the problem would be expert study by environment experts.  He said he found similar coastal problems in Pemba.  He called for joint efforts between the government, private sectors and environment stakeholders to fight effects of climate change.
The minister said the government wants to investors in all sectors the economy and does not see investors at logger heads.   He called on investors to respect laws, regulations and guidelines on protecting the environment.
Wellworth Hotels & Lodges Ltd’s lawyer, Mr Saimon Nguka, thanked the minister for his quick response saying for the past eight years the company had sought for such intervention but in vain. “We thank you for your on-the-spot assessment and intervention; we thank you for coming. We appeal to other authorities to stop sitting on people problems and grievances,” he said.
NEMC Director General Samuel Gwamaka called on investors to employ environment experts who would make ‘environmental audits’ annually and advise managements on how to handle environment issues before they got off hand.
“To a large extent, the dispute between the two parties is a result of lack of environment experts who would have advised the managements accordingly,” Dr Gwamaka said.
Tanzania has over 800 kilometres of coastline, stretching from the Kenya border in the north to the Mozambican border in the south.  Fifteen percent of Tanzania’s land area is made up of coastal area hosting roughly 25 per cent of the Mainland population with an annual growth of between 4 and 6.5 per cent.

Ends/

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