DC nabs illegal timber worth over 1.2bn/-

Petite Siyame in Mpanda

SPECIAL operation led by Tanganyika District Commissioner (DC) in Katavi Region , Mr Salehe Mhando impounded 1,300 pieces of woods and 500 of timbers valued over 1.2bn/- that had been illegally harvested in the area.

The DC who carried the operation was accompanied by members of the district security defence team and other security organs said the seized items were harvested illegally in the reserved government forests without proper permits.
Similarly he directed the state relevant organs to arrest and prosecute all timber harvesters who have been illegally invading the reserved forests in the district.
The DC named the suspect to the ‘Daily News’ yesterday as Paulo Jonathan, a resident from Ujiji in Kigoma Village.
“ I declare openly that the government will beef up security in the surrounding forests to ensure that they are fully conserved, it is very disheartening to see people harvest timber here illegally to enrich themselves....this is unacceptable and their days are now numbered,” he pointed out.
He warned that stern measures would be taken over any leader who fails to conserve the environment in his/her areas of jurisdiction, adding that: “It is sad that for a long time our forests have been turned into ‘shamba la bibi’ (translating loosely as a grandmother’s farm) with less or no supervision at all.”
On his part, the Executive Director of Tanganyika District Council, Mr Ahmd Ngalinda urged members of the public to acquire licences if they are to harvest timbers in the area, saying that those doing so without conforming to the laid down procedures will face the wrath of the law.