TANAPA prioritise neighbours in job, trade opportunities

DEUS NGOWI in Kigoma

TANAPA Corporate and Communications Manager, Mr Pascal Shelutete.

TANZANIA National Parks (TANAPA) officials and contractors have been directed to recruit labourers from villages surrounding national parks for all menial construction works contracted by the authority.

TANAPA Corporate and Communications Manager, Mr Pascal Shelutete, gave the directive at Uvinza District, Kigoma Region recently when he paid a visit to Nkonkwe women who crush pebbles for sale.

He said there was no point to buy materials from far if they were available at adjoining areas. Mr Shelutete said it was not right for a contractor working at a particular site to ignore people around instead hire workforce from far-off areas while the local population has a right to benefit from employment, albeit temporary.

“I call upon and advise all contractors and businessmen who get construction contracts from TANAPA to ensure they offer priority to people from villages around respective parks,” said Mr Shelutete.

He said he was pleased to see how women in Uvinza have become at the forefront to engage in manual labour such as crushing pebbles, a work that is typical for men in many regions.

The manager insisted on contractors to exercise humanity as well as to be fair to old women who struggle to make both ends meet, by offering them a reasonable price, bearing in mind how many sweat to get a small bucket full of pebbles.

Earlier on in their address, the women who sell the pebbles to contractor hired by TANAPA to construct Lagosa Bridge, told the manager that they were working under difficult environment which include lack of working tools and low pay.

Secretary to Nkonkwe Women Group, Ms Neema Jackson, thanked TANAPA for supporting them through Community Conservation Banks (COCOBA) as they save and get loans and create more groups as days unfold.

Explaining further about the challenges they face, she said women, some aged up to 75 years old, spend the whole day crushing pebbles and are paid so little that they cannot afford to buy meals for themselves and their children or grandchildren.

The women used to sell pebbles to TANAPA at a price of 1,000/- per small bucket, but lamented that as of now the contractor for bridges pay them only half the amount.

Mr Shelutete proposed that the 1,000/- be maintained. Mahale Mountains National Park Community Conservation Support Warden, Mr Romanus Mkonda, said the park was the main client for the women. He said once the road from Rukoma to Mahale is completed, the women might get better markets, as many areas would be accessed.