Places & Regions

  Printable version        Email to a friend

Villagers Want Agreement With Grumeti Game Investor Revoked

Posted: Tuesday September 01, 2009 11:33 AM BT

By Anthony Mayunga

Bunda - Members of communities surrounding Ikongoro and Grumeti game reserves have asked the Government to revoke contracts entered between their local government authorities and wildlife investors.

Bunda District Council land and wildlife officials admitted to visiting reporters and human rights activists that the reserve is not in good terms with the villagers.

The council land, natural resources and environment official, Ms Dinna Rweyemamu, observed that the villagers were not involved when the reserve was handed over to the investor.

The villagers used the game reserve buffer zone to graze their livestock, said the official, arguing that an alternative grazing area ought to have been sought before the area was handed over to the investor.

The district council wildlife officer, Mr Marwa Kitende, said conflicts between the investor and the villagers arose when some villagers were arrested for grazing their livestock across the river to the buffer zone.

Grumeti Reserve manager Mathias Rwegasira, said he is not sure if the villagers were properly educated on the arrangement, because their relationship with the management of the reserve is getting worse.

The villagers caught grazing in the reserve are often were fined Sh50,000 as stipulated in the 1974 conservation law as amended in 2002, he said.

The ward councillor, Mr Sumera Kiharata, added that the villagers were forced by the game wardens to pay up to a fine of Sh1 million in fines, but were not provided with receipts.

  Printable version        Email to a friend

Advertising

Your ultimate web and safari website and graphics in your safari or others business...

www.mephics.co.tz

Advertising