Government warns against dubious ‘Rhino John,’ speculations, lies

MARC NKWAME in Loliondo

THE Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism has issued a stern warning to all officials, members of staff and other employees in its various departments against issuing statements, reports or analysis regarding the famous ‘John the Rhino.

’ “The issue about ‘John the Rhino,’ is currently being investigated by the Prime Minister’s Office, and so far it is only the Premier, Mr Kassim Majaliwa, who reserves the right to comment, speak or issue official statement about the rhino,” said Engineer Ramo Makani, the Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Tourism Engineer Makani issued the warning in Loliondo during a brief conference with journalists; “Of late, there have been all sorts of reports, from layman to public servants, each striving to play expert on the issue regarding John, the rhino which was lifted from Ngorongoro Crater and taken to Grumeti Reserve,” he said.

“The government will take steps against all officials, public servants and other people who try to pre-empt the ongoing investigations concerning the issue of ‘Rhino John!,” said Engineer Makani.

The Deputy Minister used the occasion to advise all citizens to ignore all statements, media reports and other speculations surrounding the popular rhino which is already dead and its remnants, including horns are being safely kept at the Prime Minister’s Office in Dar-es-Salaam.

He was of the view that some television and radio stations have been running berserk with half-cooked theories about the issue of the rhino, some even hosting special programmes, featuring people who have very little (if any) knowledge about rhinos and wildlife.

Local newspapers have also had field days with fabricated reports about some far-fetched dramas concerning the dead rhino, and recently a Kiswahili tabloid even tried to purport that the horns that were submitted to the PM’s office belonged to another rhino.

A weekly tabloid recently also caused uproar when it tried to insinuate that there was another rhino called ‘Khadija,’ a name which never existed in the country’s wildlife records.

During his recent visit to Ngorongoro, Premier Kassim Majaliwa was told of the missing rhino, which was reportedly lifted from Ngorongoro Crater and transported to Grumeti Reserve in Serengeti.

The Premier demanded to know why and how the ferocious mammal was shifted from its native residence and when it later came to light that the animal died ‘in exile,’ Mr Majaliwa called for thorough investigations.

Already, the Chief Government Chemist has taken samples from the rhino’s remains and soon the premier will get scientific report on whether the dead rhino was really John