PERSISTENT accusations that the Zanzibar Forestry
Department has been turning a blind eye and providing a safe haven to
logs and timber smuggled from various sources, especially the Mainland,
Hamad Rashid Mohamed
seem to be receiving noticeable attention after inauguration of a new cabinet in the Isles.
Newly appointed Zanzibar Minister for Agriculture, Natural Resources, Livestock and Fisheries
Hamad Rashid Mohamed has exclusively informed The Guardian about a pending comprehensive joint operation to be mounted by the two governments.
“I cannot afford to be witness to deliberate disregard of established laws and regulations. The concern raised about clandestine conduit of logs in the Isles does not only come from Mainland forest authorities but even from other countries such as Madagascar,” the minister said, adding:
“They accuse Zanzibar of being the route for smuggled forest products. My office will not remain silent on this as destruction of natural resources will affect all of us.”
He elaborated that he had taken a personal initiative to seek audience with appropriate authorities on the Mainland “to carry out an in-depth assessment to come up with an effective strategy to combat illegal logging and enforce a ban on timber exports for the benefit of the nation and the world at large.”
The minister sounded determined to make a difference in this war, insisting that the objective was beyond putting an end to smuggling of forest products.
“My office wants to make sure that a criminal does not find refuge on either side of the union. Crime committed on the mainland should adequately be addressed in Zanzibar, and vice-versa,” Mohamed said.
“We shall use all the tools in our possession and personnel to intercept smuggled goods. Revenue authorities must be assisted to perform their duties accordingly,” he added.
For more than two decades shared intelligence reports have revealed uninterrupted night operations between Zanzibar and the coastline of Dar es Salaam, Bagamoyo and Tanga.
Mangrove forest reserves in Rufiji, in Coast region, have been particularly targeted for high-value logs. The logs have found a ready market overseas, denying the government billions of shillings in revenue.
Preliminary investigation by forest stakeholders have revealed that more than 800 tonnes of timber are furtively delivered in Zanzibar on a weekly basis ready for export.
Rice cultivation is increasingly gaining popularity in the Rufiji delta as rich people hire locals to clear extensive areas for paddy cultivation. The delta soil is always wet.
Dr Cyprian Shilla from Sokoine University of Agriculture embraced the initiative by the minister, saying that being in Zanzibar for research work some years back offered him the opportunity to learn first hand about an unfailing arrival of fleets of sailing dhows loaded with timber, logs and charcoal.
“I once encountered a secret repackaging location in one of the islands that I visited for my academic research work. I reported the incident to the former director of Zanzibar’s Forestry Services. However, he appeared quite unconcerned.
“It is quite heartening to hear a new minister taking the matter seriously for joint action,” Shilla remarked.
Former Director of Forestry and Beekeeping Division in the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism Dr Felician Kilahama equally commended the desire by the Zanzibar minister to bring to an end logs smuggling decimating forest reserves on the Mainland.
“Since the minister is willing to join hands with the mainland counterparts, frequent day and night surveillance patrols must be instituted and sustained. The full force of the famous Zanzibar
Anti-smuggling Squad (KMKM) must be unleashed to rescue our natural resources,” he observed.
He spoke strongly about the need for community support of technocrats when they mount public awareness on sustainable harvesting of forest products as well as other attached benefits.
“Forests provide perfect fodder for beekeeping. This is an enterprise that seems to be given little attention. Some individuals think of quick gains from forests without considering their gradual turn to deserts. Proper seal off of the Zanzibar route will make a big difference in conservation efforts on the mainland,” he remarked.
A report by WWF in 2006 indicated that Tanzania loses more than33,000 hectares of forest cover annually and the pace posed a serious threat to the survival of forest reserves.
A community participatory approach has been devised in some villages in Lindi, Morogoro and other regions, which has proved highly effective as villagers internalized the sense of ownership and thus protected forest reserves for collective benefits.
Newly appointed Zanzibar Minister for Agriculture, Natural Resources, Livestock and Fisheries
Hamad Rashid Mohamed has exclusively informed The Guardian about a pending comprehensive joint operation to be mounted by the two governments.
“I cannot afford to be witness to deliberate disregard of established laws and regulations. The concern raised about clandestine conduit of logs in the Isles does not only come from Mainland forest authorities but even from other countries such as Madagascar,” the minister said, adding:
“They accuse Zanzibar of being the route for smuggled forest products. My office will not remain silent on this as destruction of natural resources will affect all of us.”
He elaborated that he had taken a personal initiative to seek audience with appropriate authorities on the Mainland “to carry out an in-depth assessment to come up with an effective strategy to combat illegal logging and enforce a ban on timber exports for the benefit of the nation and the world at large.”
The minister sounded determined to make a difference in this war, insisting that the objective was beyond putting an end to smuggling of forest products.
“My office wants to make sure that a criminal does not find refuge on either side of the union. Crime committed on the mainland should adequately be addressed in Zanzibar, and vice-versa,” Mohamed said.
“We shall use all the tools in our possession and personnel to intercept smuggled goods. Revenue authorities must be assisted to perform their duties accordingly,” he added.
For more than two decades shared intelligence reports have revealed uninterrupted night operations between Zanzibar and the coastline of Dar es Salaam, Bagamoyo and Tanga.
Mangrove forest reserves in Rufiji, in Coast region, have been particularly targeted for high-value logs. The logs have found a ready market overseas, denying the government billions of shillings in revenue.
Preliminary investigation by forest stakeholders have revealed that more than 800 tonnes of timber are furtively delivered in Zanzibar on a weekly basis ready for export.
Rice cultivation is increasingly gaining popularity in the Rufiji delta as rich people hire locals to clear extensive areas for paddy cultivation. The delta soil is always wet.
Dr Cyprian Shilla from Sokoine University of Agriculture embraced the initiative by the minister, saying that being in Zanzibar for research work some years back offered him the opportunity to learn first hand about an unfailing arrival of fleets of sailing dhows loaded with timber, logs and charcoal.
“I once encountered a secret repackaging location in one of the islands that I visited for my academic research work. I reported the incident to the former director of Zanzibar’s Forestry Services. However, he appeared quite unconcerned.
“It is quite heartening to hear a new minister taking the matter seriously for joint action,” Shilla remarked.
Former Director of Forestry and Beekeeping Division in the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism Dr Felician Kilahama equally commended the desire by the Zanzibar minister to bring to an end logs smuggling decimating forest reserves on the Mainland.
“Since the minister is willing to join hands with the mainland counterparts, frequent day and night surveillance patrols must be instituted and sustained. The full force of the famous Zanzibar
Anti-smuggling Squad (KMKM) must be unleashed to rescue our natural resources,” he observed.
He spoke strongly about the need for community support of technocrats when they mount public awareness on sustainable harvesting of forest products as well as other attached benefits.
“Forests provide perfect fodder for beekeeping. This is an enterprise that seems to be given little attention. Some individuals think of quick gains from forests without considering their gradual turn to deserts. Proper seal off of the Zanzibar route will make a big difference in conservation efforts on the mainland,” he remarked.
A report by WWF in 2006 indicated that Tanzania loses more than33,000 hectares of forest cover annually and the pace posed a serious threat to the survival of forest reserves.
A community participatory approach has been devised in some villages in Lindi, Morogoro and other regions, which has proved highly effective as villagers internalized the sense of ownership and thus protected forest reserves for collective benefits.
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