THE Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism has
endorsed the request by Tanzania National Parks Authority (TANAPA) to operate
from the current civilian system to paramilitary in the quest for a lasting
solution to poaching. Speaking at the climax of a training for soldiers and
game reserve rangers, the Permanent Secretary (PS) in the Ministry of Natural
Resources, Major General Gaudence Milanzi, said the request for change from
civilian to paramilitary was valid because of the prevailing problem of
poaching. Maj Gen Milanzi officiated the passing- out ceremony held at Mlele
camp in Katavi Game Reserve, located in Katavi Region, where a total of 101
soldiers and 26 rangers completed the training that was conducted for three and
six months respectively. “Currently, our game reserves are facing a huge
challenge of poaching especially elephants and rhinos because of blatant
disregard of ethics by guards and rangers,’’ he said, adding: “We will forward
your request to other authorities so as to prepare a proper legal framework
that will be presented in Parliament in order to have a law which will specify
how you will discharge your duties.’’ However, the PS asked the soldiers and TANAPA
management to prepare a proper transition mechanism so as when the law will be
ready, they can be able to accommodate appropriate changes that will be
specified in the respective legislation.
After the new changes, you will be
required to observe discipline as it has always been in other members of the
uniformed forces, including accountability and avoiding trade unions. “In any
contravention of the military code of ethics you will be tried in the court marshal
and given punishment accordingly as per the procedures and regulations applied
in the defence forces,’’ added Maj Gen Milanzi. Earlier, when submitting the
request, TANAPA Director General Allan Kijazi said after a thorough assessment by
experts in the authority, it was concluded that because of the current various
challenges, it is high time that it operates as a paramilitary to look for a
comprehensive solution to the challenges. “Our soldiers are given pure military
training, complete with serious training on weapon handling that will help them
to weed out poachers in our various national parks,’’ he added, insisting: “It
should be understood that currently poachers especially those killing our
elephants have been using sophisticated weapons and technology and they have
been changing their tactics to have their mission accomplished.’’ Mr Kijazi
insisted that the aim of the military training was to increase capacity
building to soldiers to make them stronger to conduct regular patrols even in
dangerous areas of the game reserves. Earlier, Katavi Regional Commissioner
(RC), Major General (Rtd) Raphael Mahunga, warned groups of pastoralists that
were taking animals in the game reserve to stop it immediately. “We made an
assessment in my region and found out that there was 800,000 livestock that
invaded Katavi National Park, but we made a special operation to kick out animals
in that area,’’ said the RC. Mr Mahunga said the region would use the soldiers
who completed their training to make regular operations that would ensure that
no animals were being taken in the game reserves. The military training is the
third to be provided to TANAPA staff. The authority is manning 16 different
game reserves countrywide.
SOURCE: DAILY NEWS
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