Mafia residents tout responsible tourism

FLORENCE MUGARULA

CHOLE Mjini Lodge, a quirky treehouse lodge hidden amongst a magical grove of baobab trees on Chole island. Residents of the island are calling on the government to promote responsible tourism which will guarantee sustainable use of resources for their wellbeing. (File Photo)

THERE is still a very alive and active village life, rich with tradition and mutual respect. Ever-smiling faces and humble welcomes identifies the residents. We are talking about Chole village, a small island off Mafia in Coast Region.

Rope and mat making, boat building and fishing were the cornerstone of the island economy and business before. But there is now a bigger business booming on the island – tourism. In 1993, Chole Mjini Conservation and Development Company Ltd was established with the purpose of promoting tourism that brings real benefits to the community and supports conservation around the Boma ruins on Chole Island.

Tourism can involve primary transportation to the general location, local transportation, accommodations, entertainment, recreation, nourishment and shopping. Responsible tourism is the concept of tourism trying to make only a positive impact on the environment, society and economy.

Since 1993, Chole island residents have witnessed both social and economic changes. The company has built and runs a tree house lodge and is engaged in the renovation of the Boma and other ruins, conserving the environment and promoting the Island in and outside the country. Those who were interviewed said their lives have changed for the better since their interaction with tourists has opened doors for both social and economic changes.

The village Chairman, Mr Shehali Hamad said the investor was welcomed to the village in 1993. He said all legal and traditional procedures were followed and the investor was allowed to commence his activities. “We are thankful to the investor and the government that granted the permit to operate in our village.

Our lives have really changed. We have made very big steps,” said Hamad. On education Mr Hamad said until 1993, the village had no nursery school and the primary school. “We had only one classroom and one teacher’s house, in fact nothing was going on”, said Mr Hamad.

However, the village leader said that now the village has its own nursery school, primary school and even adult education classes in English and computers.

In 1993 only one person had attained secondary education in Chole village. Since the coming of an investor, a total 173 Chole residents have managed to go for secondary and 16 have graduated from university on scholarships.
More than 500m have been donated to finance education since 2007. This year 74 students are sponsored. One of the villagers, Mr HamisAthuman, said for the first time Chole village has a woman who has obtained a Bachelor Degree. We have our own Zubeda Bhai, the first girl to attain a Bachelor Degree in Education (Chemistry and Mathematics) in this village. This is a big achievement,” he said.
Ms Anne de Villiers, the Managing Director, who runs Chole Mjini Lodge says that the company’s objective is to educate two generations so that the community will not need help in the future. “We want to provide security in education so that our Chole children can ‘dream big’ from a young age because they know that they will be able to study even to University” level. The company also raised donor funding to build a health centre.
Unlike before, the villagers now enjoy health services within their village instead of taking boats to other areas. Economic improvement The residents said the company provides jobs and market for their produces in the area. “We sell mats, rope, fish, poles, fruit and other products”, said former village chairman, Mr Mabruki Sadiki.
According to him in 1993 the investors agreed that they will support the development of the community. He said they also agreed that at least 80 percent employees in the hotel must come from Chole village. Sadiki told journalists that instead of employing 80 percent of the villagers, all staff come from Chole village.
The company also contributes 10 USD to the village from each guest for every night they spend at the hotel. “I can say that 100 percent of workers in the lodge come from Chole village. To be honest, we cannot complain. This investment is benefitting our community”, he said.
The village gets an average of between 90m/- and 120m/- annually from the company and their associated charity, mainly from guests of the hotel. Moreover, women have been enabled to form village community banks (Vicoba).
Through vicoba, most of them have been capable to engage in various economic activities. Ms Swahiba Rajab said the company facilitates adult education in the area for all people who wish to attend studies. She added that through the program, women have been encouraged to discuss various development matters.
“Women have been sponsored to attend meetings outside the country. They even managed to travel to Botswana where they met with other women’s groups to discuss development issues,” she said.
Ms Riziki Selenge, a former Chole Women Development Committee executive said the village has made great steps in the past 23 years. She said the establishment of the company has opened doors for Chole Island and the current interaction with the outside World has exposed Chole residents to development. “We have been linked to the outside World, women and men are now both engaged in various economic activities, the company is dearly supporting us,” she said.
Mr Farahani Shomali informed us that the company exposed residents in the area to training on various economic activities, including solar power. He said the residents have formed groups for tailoring, making ‘batik’ clothes and hand bags from mats.
He said tourists are the main customers. Responsible tourism in Chole island contributed almost 1.3bn/- to the Tanzania economy last year. Approximately 800m/- went into the Mafia District economy and of that the economy of Chole Island got about 200m/-.
Also the guests spent 400m/- on domestic flights to get to Chole. Employment In 1993, only one person had a job. To date more than 100 adults on Chole Island have full time employment and at least 40 others have part time employment.
Ms Anne de Villiers said apart from supporting the community with education, health and other social services, the company and associated projects employ more than 60 workers from Chole Island.
Some of employees said the coming of an investor has helped to improve the island’s economic status. They said apart from lacking education, the investor trained them and now they are serving various customers from in and outside the country.
Mr Shahibu Mbaraka, a waiter in a lodge said they have been trained on how to handle customers regardless of language barriers. “I am doing everything in my capacity to handle customers, I know this job is everything to me, I am taking care of children and my parents because of this job,” he said. Another staff member, Mr Rajabu Tawakali, said money circulation was very low before the coming of an investor.
He said, although the situation is still difficult, at least Chole residents can see light in the distance and they have the hope to reach there.“We are very hopeful that soon we will reach there. This company offers education to our children, and we believe that education is the key liberator of people from poverty.