Msigwa shows video on illegal hunting activities.

Mwananchi , 7th July 2014 – Videos on illegal hunting in the country shown to journalists in Dar es Salaam yesterday by the Shadow Minister for Natural Resources and Tourism, Peter Msigwa, has shocked many. The video, without leaving any doubt, shows how some hunting companies misuse their hunting licenses and commit acts of poaching.
The video was submitted as evidence to the Speaker of Parliament, Anne Makinda, during the parliamentary budget session that ended about two weeks ago, after being asked to provide proof of his claim that the Government has failed to take any action against hunting companies carrying out illegal activities in their operations. These claims were in the budget speech that the Shadow Ministry delivered to parliament in May, this year.
The video titled ‘Tanzania Hunting Trip Season 2012′ was shot in 2012 by Green Miles Hunting Company for the purpose of advertising,  In it there are  men of Arab origin showing their skills hunting animals from inside a vehicle using heavy weapons like Sub Machine Guns (SMG) with sound proofing. In the video, one of the hunters is seen teaching a boy aged between 12 or 15 how to hunt small animals and birds.

He told reporters yesterday that he has decided to show the evidence to reporters and the public since the government has not taken any action against hunting companies going against the law.

“Given the bluntness of this government in managing and overseeing our resources, preventing illegal and random hunting that that promotes poaching and threatening the fate of natural resources and tourism of this country, the company violated section 42 of the Act of wildlife of 2009, which defines that any person who wounds an animal will be required to make all efforts to the best of his ability to killing the animal within the shortest possible time, “said Msigwa

Msigwa urged the government to carry out a thorough investigation on all hunting companies in the country including Green Miles Safaris. “Minister of Natural Resources and Tourism should hold responsible ministry officials who have failed to fulfill and implement their roles and responsibilities.”

Responding to the allegations the Minister of Natural Resources and Tourism, Lazaro Nyalandu acknowledge the existence of the video and said he tasked the Department of Wildlife to conduct investigations on the authenticity of the video and identify rules and regulations broken. And what action should be taken to ensure such acts are not repeated if the video is authentic.

He said he hopes the answers to the inquiry will be provided within two weeks from today and after they team professionals tasked with the investigations submit their findings he he would give a formal statement on what action the government will take.

He also said the government is searching for the suspects to respond to the allegations.