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 marshall 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.
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