THE Minister for Natural Resources and Tourism, Prof Jumanne Maghembe, has ordered a review of the draft constitution for Mbomipa to pave way for sustainable conservation activities in Ruaha National Park.
Mbomipa is an acronym from the Swahili
name, Matumizi Bora ya Malihai Idodi na Pawaga, officially translated in
English as “Sustainable Use of Wildlife Resources in Idodi and Pawaga.
Neighbouring the Ruaha National Park,
the Mbomipa wildlife management area (WMA) is made up of land carved out
from 21 villages located within Idodi and Pawaga administrative wards
in Iringa Rural District.
Prof. Maghembe issued the order while
receiving a report on the matter over the weekend in Iringa Region. The
review order came following a tour he made in the community’s area at
Tungamalenga Village in Iringa District.
Following a tour made in August, this
year, and a report by the committee appointed to oversee the matter, the
minister discovered various shortfalls on the draft and ordered its
immediate review.
He also ordered that the board of
trustees of the community be dissolved with immediate effect, citing
some of the shortfalls as ‘discrepancies’ between the draft constitution
and the country’s principal laws that govern wildlife conservation --
together with its regulations.
Prof. Maghembe also pointed out that the
draft constitution did not define the means through which the community
leaders would be elected, their responsibilities and how they would be
held accountable.
He added that the draft did not explain
how the board of trustees would be made up, the responsibility of
investors to the community and to the government in general.
Prof. Maghembe was visibly ‘dismayed’ by
apparent failure by the board of trustees to make Mbomipa profitable;
instead, it relied heavily on donor support – totally failing to set up
an organization that would support its own members in the surrounding
villages.
The report was presented by a state
attorney at Iringa district council, Mr Kissah Mbilla, on behalf of the
district executive directorate, and was discussed and various
deliberations on its improvement were made.
“After all these constructive
contributions, go and make it better so that it can put in consideration
all the key issues including that of equal distribution of revenue.
Consideration of the animal paths and
the number of members should consider all the villagers in the villages
that established the community to avoid possible misunderstanding in the
future,” he said.
The meeting was attended by the deputy
minister for Natural Resources and Tourism, Eng Ramo Makani, who also
chaired the committee formed by Prof. Maghembe to investigate the
Mbomipa row.
Other members were made up by officials
from the Iringa Regional Security Committee led by Iringa Regional
Commissioner, Ms Amina Masenza.
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