TANAPA donates 1062 desks to schools

ANNE ROBI in Morogoro

TANZANIA National Parks Authority (TANAPA) through Udzungwa National Park has donated a total of 1,062 desks worth over 128m/- to schools at Kidatu and Mangula wards in Kilombero District, Morogoro Region.

Chief Park Warden of Udzungwa National Park, Mr Alhaji Mohammed, said yesterday here that the desks were donated between 2012 and 2016 to 18 schools located in the two wards of Kidatu and Mangula in Kilombero District after realising shortages of desks they face.

Mr Mohammed made the revelation when speaking to a team of women journalists from various regions in the country who toured the park recently under TANAPA sponsorship to learn on the state’s wildlife resources.

“We (Udzungwa Park Authority) have already handed over some desks to 18 schools, though the rest were donated this year, and we would again hand over some to them so soon,” he said adding that the authority provided 692 desks between 2012/15 to the schools.

Mr Mohammed said the authority plans to donate another total of 370 more desks to the same schools towards supporting President John Magufuli’s efforts in improving the quality of education in the country.

In the first phase, the authority provided 414 desks worth 56m/-, and 270 ones at 26m/- in the second phase as well as 370 more desks worth 46m/- in the third phase.

On his side, the Park Warden Community Development Officer, Mr Simon Naivaisha said the desks provided formed part of their initiative aimed at supporting communities living around the park.

“The donation forms part of our major projects amongst others, being developed by the park to support communities surrounding us and the government towards ensuring improved quality education and other social services deliveries in the communities,” he said.

He said the Park under TANAPA releases 70 per cent of its resources to develop various community development projects on health, water, education, environmental conservation among others.