TANZANIA HOSTS STATUE OF VATICAN'S APPOINTED FOOTBALLERS PATRON

Tanzania has been selected in Africa to host statue of footballers patron, Saint Luigi Scrosoppi, whom sportsmen can pass over their prayers to win instead of witchcraft.

In 2010, Vatican nominated Luigi Scrosoppi as the worldwide Saint that protects al

l Footballers and fans in all games as a way to restore moral in sports.

Arumeru district commissioner Nyirembe Munasa over the weekend led hundreds of people in Momela villager to receive St Luigi’s statue during a mass presided over by Fr. Patrick Kagua from Usa River Parish.

Two Tanzanian sports children under Africa Amin Alama charity organization based in Momella village in Arumeru, on their sponsored trip to Austria brought the original Statue of St. Luigi on 7th of October 2014 to Tanzania.

This statue enters Africa for the very first time, one being kept in Italy, home country of Luigi Scrosoppi, one in South America and this third one brought to one of the main project of Luigi Scrosoppi foundation: to Momella, Ngare Nanuki ward, Arumeru district: the Africa Amini Football Academy.

Faith has become key component in the lives of footballers worldwide lately with players vividly seen making the sign of the cross on the pitch when a match is about to kick off or a goal is scored.

With their patron saint in place, clubs can now go a step further and set aside their own chaplains for saying special masses ahead of and throughout tournaments.  

They can also earmark particular places of devotion for their fans to pray for their teams, says the vice president of Africa Amini Alama, Dr. Cornelia Wallner-Frisee.

“Footballers’ prayers through St Luigi can go a long way in toning down a growing enmity among soccer players and fans,” adds Dr Frisee.   

Africa Amini Alama qualified to be one of the cooperation partners of the Luigi Scrosoppi Foundation that unifies a number of special projects around the world that follow the ideas of St. Luigi.

The Non-for-profit organization is taking care of more than 750 children every day, providing education, medical care, social support, football training in its sports academy, a home and therefore works according to the ideas of St. Luigi Scrosoppi.


The football academy is supported by the foundation as it helps talented, needy children to find a new structure, education and hope in their most important years of childhood.

The academy is registered at the Tanzanian football association, has 25 boarding children, and provides free education, home and football training for talented boys of Arumeru district.

It has won the district league championship in 2014, and got the 1st price for the most disciplined and fairest team of the tournament.

“A small trophy that we are particularly proud because it shows that we teach the boys much more than only football. We are trying hard to follow the spirit of Luigi Scrosoppi” says Dr. Wallner-Frisee.

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ZAMBIAN PRESIDENT DIES IN LONDON

 Zambian President Michael Sata has died in London, where he had been receiving treatment for an undisclosed illness, a government source in Africa's second-largest copper producer said on Wednesday.

The private Muzi television station and the Zambia Reports and Zambian Watchdog websites said the southern African nation's 77-year-old leader died on Tuesday evening at London's King Edward VII hospital.

"It is true. We lost the President. The acting president will make a statement soon," the source told Reuters.

Sata is likely to be succeeded on an interim basis by defence minister Edgar Lungu, who stood in recently as acting president, or vice-president Guy Scott, who would become Africa's first white head of state since South Africa's FW de Klerk in 1994.

The constitution says a new presidential election must be held within 90 days, with most analysts saying Scott is unlikely to run because of citizenship restrictions.

The Zambian kwacha was largely unchanged.

"Obviously there will be a sentimental temptation to go long dollars, but I'm also quite confident the central bank will do everything it can to protect the currency," one Lusaka-based trader said. "In terms of the economy, everything should still be on track."

Sata left Zambia for medical treatment abroad on Oct. 19 accompanied by his wife and family members, according to a brief government statement at the time that gave no further details.

There was no official update on his condition and Lungu, secretary general of Sata's Patriotic Front party, had to lead celebrations last week to mark the landlocked nation's 50th anniversary of independence from Britain.

Concern over Sata's health had been mounting since June when he disappeared from the public eye without explanation and was then reported to be getting medical treatment in Israel.

He missed a scheduled speech at the U.N. General Assembly in September amid reports that he had fallen ill in his New York hotel. A few days before that, he had attended the opening of parliament in Lusaka, joking: "I am not dead."

Sata has not been seen in public since he returned to Zambia from New York in late September.

(Reporting(Reuters)  by Chris Mfula and Ed Cropley; Writing by Ed Cropley; Editing by Joe Brock)

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INVOLVE COMMUNITY IF THE WAR AGAINST POACHING IS TO BE WON - TOUR OPERATORS

Community in and around wildlife-protected areas could fight poaching effectively, if they are meaningfully benefiting from the resources, tour operators say.

MINISTER  FOR TOURISM AND NATURAL RESOURCES  ,LAZARO NYALANDU LEADING  ANTI-POACHING   ELEPHANT AND RHINO MARCH IN ARUSHA 

Chairman of Tanzania Association of Tour operators (TATO) Willy Chambullo said that the government has no option rather than to embrace the community if the war against poaching is to be won.

Addressing hundreds of people who took part in an annual March for elephants and rhino event in Arusha, Chambullo made a passionate call upon the government to review its policy to enable residents around the national parks to benefit more.

“The communities in and around the wildlife protected areas feel that the animals and other flora and fauna are government properties and that they have nothing to do with their lives” Chambullo stressed.

According to him, this perceived perception need to be corrected by availing more opportunities to the communities in and around national parks to make them feel ownership of the wildlife resources.

TATO also highlighted several measures, including a major operation to stop poaching and deal with criminal intermediaries that are involved in the chain from national parks and protected areas, to the ports.

In the list of proposal tour operators demanded a total ban on ivory trade now than latter.

“We need our government to put pressure on CITES and the United Nations to impose a total international ban on all ivory and rhino products trade - horn and ivory” says Chambullo.
TATO also demanded the government to engage China and United States of America directly using Tanzania’s much wanted mineral resources such as oil and gas and uranium as leverage to force china to close of its ivory carving factories.
Chambullo further wanted the government to seek more support from the international community to help fund anti-poaching and to conduct regular wildlife census counts of all wildlife.

“We are of the view that the government needs support from development partners, for a more all inclusive approach to improve development in areas outside national parks serving as migratory corridors and wildlife dispersal zones in improving community based tourism based on nature based & cultural tourism activities” he stressed.

Natural resources and tourism Minister, Lazaro Nyalandu said the government would ensure that the communities are the number one beneficiaries of their own resources than ever before.

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NGORONGORO SOPA LODGE VOTED AS THE WORLD'S BEST HOTEL

Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge in the rim of the scenic Ngorongoro crater has won the most prestigious global quality award for this year, raisingthe Tanzania tourism flag high.

The Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge was declared by the influential Travel +leisure Magazine as the World’s Best Hotel Service Award Winner for  2014, thanks for the consumer votes.

The Magazine’s world annual award event serves to acknowledge, reward and celebrate excellence of hotels and lodges across the globe.

A statement issued by the Magazine publisher, Jay Meyer says: Our readers – the ultimate global citizens – have spoken.

 Now its your turn to share this news with the world”.

He applauded Ngorongoro Sopa lodge management, saying that the lodge represents one of the greatest travel experiences around the globe.

Perched on the rim of a collapsed volcano, Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge takes living on the edge to an ultra-luxurious level.

Perks include the resort’s fresh-squeezed juice, performances by the staff choir, and nightly turndown service with a hot water bottle.

“So while guests come to the lodge for its prime wildlife viewing and remote locale, they stay for its impeccable service” says Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge General Manager, Hashim Mohamed.

According to him the award was basically derived from the quality services provided by the Sopa lodge staff to the visitors of the Ngorongoro crater.

“I’m very much proud of my staff for hard working and their team work spirit.

 This is what makes the difference when it comes to provide exceptional services to our customers” Mr Mohamed noted.

The lodge has also won several other international awards such as Certificate of excellence from Trip Advisor for the last consecutive three years, 2012, 2013 and 2014.

In additional, the lodge also has been recognized by the studiosus Quality award 2011 for outstanding level of customers satisfaction, zoover awards 2013, for being one of the highly recommended hotel by

Zoovers visitors, Holidaycheck Quality award 2014 for one of the best rated hotels in the world.

“This is as a result of concerted efforts by all staff in providing exceptional hospitality that compliments our great location,” Mr. Mohamed explained.

According to him, the greatest secret behind the success story is regular staff trainings, employee recognition programs, empowerment and working as a team.

“Its our responsibility to provide our guests with the exception experience that is memorable and as a result share their positive experience with the world” he noted.

Commenting, the CEO of Tanzania Association of Tour Operators, Sirili Akko said that Ngorongoro sopa lodge has confirmed to the world that Tanzania is a prime tourism and hospitality destination.

“Quality service is the most important area in tourism industry and honestly Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge has successfully managed to maintain it’s outstanding service provision and this should be emulated by other hospitality service providers” Mr akko stressed.

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EAC PREPARES A MEETING TO ADDRESS EBOLA VIRUS THREAT

 The East African Community (EAC) is preparing a meeting to address the emerging global threat of Ebola virus, the EAC deputy secretary general (Planning and Investments), Dr Enos Bukuku, said yesterday.

The deadly communicable disease with a fatality rate of up to 90 per cent has so far reportedly claimed 1,000-plus lives in West African countries.

Dr Bukuku told the visiting Zanzibar President, Dr Ali Mohammed Shein, that the extraordinary meeting would involve officials from ministries of Health and Social Welfare as well as Transport and Aviation from across the EAC partner states.

Dr Shein was in Arusha yesterday morning to open the 12th Scientific Congress of the Association of Pathologists of East, Central and Southern Africa which the EAC is hosting at its headquarters.

Dr Bukuku said Article 118 of the Treaty establishing the EAC provided for cooperation in health, social and cultural activities in the region.

He said EAC partner states, as a result, cooperated in taking joint action towards management, prevention and control of communicable diseases, development of a common drug policy, and harmonisation of drug procedures in a bid to achieve good control of pharmaceutical standards.

He added that the bloc was also cooperating in the harmonisation of health policies and regulations, the exchange of information on health issues, and in the cooperation and promotion of research.

“Laboratories are workplaces of pathologists and scientists; it is as a kitchen is to a hotel or food industry, for without a laboratory there is no correct treatment and the result is either death or continuous suffering,” Dr Bukuku said.

Meanwhile, SD Africa Limited donated Sh30 million worth of 360 Hepatitis B and C kits to Tanzania Mainland and Zanzibar governments during the conference.

Dr Shein received the kits on behalf of both governments shortly before officiating at the congress.

The gadgets, according to the Health and Social welfare minister, Dr Seif Rashid, are essential in the testing of increasing cases of cancer in the country.

The SD Africa Standard Diagnostic Africa representative, Mr Phillip Sawe, said the rapid test kits manufactured in South Korea were effective in high risk areas such as Tanzania. 

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POLICE NET ARUSHA MOST WANTED BOMBING SUSPECTS

POLI CE in Arusha  yesterday named a “most wanted” suspect said to be behind a wave of terrorist attacks in Arusha and Zanzibar.

ARUSHA REGIONAL POLICE COMMANDER L.SABAS

Arusha Regional Police Commander Liberatus Sabas said thorough investigations had established that Mr Yahya Hassan Hella, alias Sensei, was the mastermind behind the terror network responsible for several deadly attacks.

“We have established that he is not only behind the grenade and acid attacks in Arusha,  but is the chief coordinator of this terror network,” he said, adding that the suspect hailed from Kondoa District in Dodoma Region.

Mr Sabas named the suspect as two people appeared in court in Dar es Salaam on terrorism charges.

He said police were also looking for Mr Hella’s accomplices, adding that some of them could have fled the country.

“We have the names of key suspects who have fled Arusha and gone into hiding in other parts of Tanzania and outside the country,” Mr Sabas said.

Nineteen more suspects have been arrested in recent days, taking the number of those in custody to more than two dozen.

Mr Sabas said more people were due to appear in court in Arusha today in connection with attacks which have rocked the northern city in recent months.

Police sources said those arrested in recent days include suspects linked with the grenade attack at a Chadema campaign rally in Arusha on June 15, last year.  The blast killed four people.

The opposition party said it had a video implicating police in the incident.  The Police Force has strongly denied involvement in the attack at Soweto grounds.

Sources also said the suspects in custody included 12 people who were allegedly involved in the  May 5, 2013 grenade attack at a church in Olasiti, Arusha.

 Three people were killed and 60 others wounded when the grenade was hurled into the congregation as the Vatican envoy to Tanzania, Francisco Padilla, was about to grace the official inauguration of the church building.

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SOPA LODGE GETS FIVE STAR RANKING

 Tarangire Sopa Lodge   has been awarded   a five star hotel class after meeting   criteria set by the East African Community in conjunction with the Ministry of Natural Resources and tourism.

Tarangire Sopa Lodge hotel manager, Dedan Ogelo holding a five star trophy. Next to him is a sopa lodge group operations manager, Kennedy Ayoti and Human resource Manager, one Elisaria Makivao in a group picture with staffs after receiving the certificate of recognition from ministry of natural resources and tourism.

Based in Tarangire National Park, the lodge is described by visitors from all over the world as an elegant ultra modern luxury facility in the area.

Presenting the award to the management and staff of the lodge over the weekend Group Manager of Operations of Sopa Lodges, Kennedy Ayoti praised the workers for their job well done.

 “I acknowledge and appreciate your commitment, hard working and high motivation spirit. These, among others, are behind our lodge to achieve a high ranking. Be proud of yourselves” Ayoti remarked.

He said the hotel classification exercise had tough procedures, which involved serious scrutiny in all areas including service, environment, human resource development and skills.

“I urge the management and workers to work even harder to maintain this achievement, experts will be visiting here to evaluate our progress” Ayoti noted.

In his remarks, Tarangire Sopa Lodge Manager,Dedan Ogelo said his lodge offers tailor made services and amenities to make  Tarangire national Park  the most special place to experience.

“We believe in giving the best for our visitors when they get here they are welcomed by architectural charm and unparalleled service. The guests are entitled to enjoy luxurious services” said Ogelo.

In receiving the award, staff showed their joy of achievements, vowing to double efforts and commitment in order to sustain the achievement.

Ritha Mollel a worker told the visiting journalists that they are confident and well prepared to take the only five-star lodge to the next level.

“We appreciate Sopa lodge Management for its policy where we staffs are regularly receiving training's as part of carrier advancement. I am sure without this we wouldn't achieved the best in serving our customers” she said.

Mollel said the strategy has contributed a lot in terms of maintaining standards of all hotel facilities and services throughout.

It takes 40 minutes’ drive from the main gate of Tarangire National park to sopa lodge, with capacity to host 150 occupants at a time in 75 spacious rooms.

Sopa Lodge has also a conference hall with capacity of accommodating between 70-100 occupants at once.

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EIGHT HURT IN TANZANIA TOURIST RESTAURANT BOMBING

Tanzania: Eight people were wounded late Monday when unknown attackers hurled a bomb through the window of a restaurant popular with foreigners and wealthy locals in the north Tanzanian town of Arusha.

"No one died, but eight people were wounded, one is in a serious condition," Tanzania Director of criminal  Investigation (DCI)Isaya Mngulu .

"It was an improvised explosive device thrown through a window."

All the wounded, who included two children, were Tanzanians, according to the police chief.

The floor of the upmarket  Indian restaurant in the centre of Arusha was covered in blood, with overturned chairs amid broken glass, an eye witness  said.

No one has claimed responsibility, but two Tanzanian nationals were arrested following the attack, Mr Mngulu said, giving no further details.

The bombing targeted a key town for Tanzania's tourist industry, a major source of foreign currency for the East African country.

Visitors come to Arusha before travelling on to the iconic snowcapped peak of Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa's highest mountain, as well as to the Serengeti national park, famed for its spectacular great migration of wildebeest.

A political rally

Somalia's Al-Qaeda-linked Al-Shabaab have carried out attacks across East Africa, especially targeting Kenya in wave of bombings and killings, but Tanzanian police said they did not believe the extremists were to blame for the Arusha blast.

"We do not know who the attackers are, but we do not suspect any involvement with Al-Shabaab," Mr Mngulu said.

Unlike Kenya, Tanzania does not have troops fighting against the Al-Shabaab with the African Union force in Somalia.

The attack is the latest of several in Arusha.

On July 3, two people were wounded when an improvised bomb was hurled into the home of leading Muslim cleric in Arusha, Mr Mngulu said.

Police arrested six people, all Tanzanians, following that attack.

Three people were killed and 60 wounded in June 2013 in Arusha when a grenade was hurled into a political rally by an opposition party.

A month before, attackers killed three and wounded 30 when an improvised bomb exploded in a Cat

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MAASAI STUDENTS TO STUDY IN AMERICA IN EXCHANGE PROGRAMME

THE Maasai students in Monduli district now have a reason to jubilate, thanks to an insertion of exchange programme between their school and an American school.

According to Orkeeswa secondary school headmaster, Yusuph Mollel the exchange programme will enable his students to travel all the way to American Groton School and study for good three months and the same to the later.

Mollel said that idea behind the programme is to give both students a lifetime exposure that could be inspiration for them.

“Our students have learnt a lot in America during the pilot programme and the same way for the American students who come in Tanzania. We think this is important way of giving our students an exposure” he noted.

Groton school director of counseling who is in Tanzania with several American students, Ms Megan Harlan said that the exchange programme offers both students an opportunity to learn and appreciate the diversities.

“My students are admired the Maasai culture and appreciate that there are diversity between American tradition and Tanzanian one. This will not be possible with this programme” she explained.

A Groton school student, Sophie Baker says that she was overwhelmed by the Maasai community warm welcome, adding that the smiles will never leave her brain forever.

A form five student of Orkeeswa school who went to America, Florah Tipapurwa to Orkeeswa School said that American education system is more advanced compared to Tanzanian one where students do not have enough materials and desks.

“Our colleagues have a lot of scholastic materials and teachers compared to us where we compete for few materials available” a young Florah says.

Orkeeswa School, opened in 2008, is located in an under-served Maasai community in the Monduli Hills of northern Tanzania known as Lashaine Village.

By providing free education within the village, Orkeeswa offers the only opportunity for most of its students to continue education past the primary level.

“Students of Orkeeswa School live and learn within their own village, allowing them to take their education home with them every day” said the school Managing Director, Mr Peter Luis.

Orkeeswa’s holistic model of education extends beyond the classroom and equips students with the knowledge and skills to create change in their community.

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HADZABE FACE SEVERE HUNGER

A Hadzabe community living in a remote Eyasi valley in Karatu district, Arusha region is facing a serious food crisis, frightening the survival of a rare ethnic group.

An indigenous hunter-gatherers community depends on wild fruits; roots, honey and wild meats as its staple food, but farming, tree felling for charcoal and mining activities in Eyasi valley have robbed them natural forestry, a key source for their foodstuff

Now the hadzabe says that the situation has worsened food insecurity in the community as sometimes they go to bed up to three days without eating.

The hadzabe  boma leader Kankono Mkanga said that the farmers and miners have reduced their forestry, keeping the fruits and wild animals out of their reach.

“We are close to starving because no one is care about our situation. We normally used to get food aid from various churches and tourists but this year we haven’t seen anyone” says Kankono

According to a hadzabe woman Ngake Mtawona ,their ancestors land alienation by farmers, miners and livestock keepers has reduced the community to a permanent beggar.

"We are starving, all the animals have disappeared and we Hadzabe only feed on meat."  an old man who was making arrows from sticks explained through an interpreter. His wife, Ntale Nzale was keeping a tin of maize flour in their grass hut

She explained that at the moment they are forced to go begging as far as Mang’ola barazani and  Endamaga villages where they end up getting onions, which do not constitute their traditional foodstuff.

“So we are compelled to eat onions as a staple food rather than dying of hunger. We call upon government and any other well wishers to come up and rescue our community from being perished of famine” she noted. 

Eyasi Division officer, Laanyun Ole Supuk admitted that the hadzabe population  is under threat due to food insecurity, appealing to the government to supply the community with emergency food as soon as possible.

Supuuk said that the major problem of Hadzabe is their traditional lifestyle, which does not encourage keeping food stock.

“I think if they get eighty tones of maize it will help the until the high tourism season starts few weeks, normaly when tourists visits them they donate some money for their survival “Supuk  added.

 The Hadzabe, who live in small groups are believed to be less than 1,500 in total in Tanzania. This unique community is the closest cultural relative to the San Bushmen of the Kalahari in Botswana.

Naftal Zengu Kitandu, 58, a Hadzabe and Eshkesh  Ward civic leader, said the Hadzabe bush people's population has dwindled from 5,000 in 1990s to as few as 1,500 this time around.

"Invasion by other tribes from Mwanza, Karatu and Shinyanga who bring along herds of cattle and introduce farming in the valley has been threatening the survival of Hadza people who only depend on fruits, roots, honey and small animals for survival," Mr. Kitandu explained.

 Aliens' invasion, according to the Mongo-wa-Mono Ward representative, Mr. Bryson Magombe, has been destructive to the environment leading to the disappearance of most wild animal species, natural vegetation and water sources thus endangering the lives of the Hadza.

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CA, URGED TO MAINTAIN ENVIRONMENT ARTICLE IN THE DRAFT CONSTITUTION

Members of the constituent assembly have been urged not to strike out the provision on the right to a clean, safe and healthy environment.

Elifuraha Laltaika, an environmental law lecturer at Tumaini University Makumira said this over the weekend during a public lecture on the link between human rights and the environment organized the University’s Law Faculty.

“The constitutional provision will ensure highest protection of the environmental rights including the right to  sustainably use the country’s natural resources from being undermined by ordinary legislation.”  said Mr. Laltaika who is also advocate of the high court.

The draft constitution, which was unveiled by the constitutional review commission and tabled before the constituent assembly, contains the right to a healthy and clean environment in the bill of rights.

According to Advocate Laltaika, the provision places Tanzania in a list of progressive countries that have given sustainable economic development and environmental protection the highest legal recognition.

He further said that article 41 of the draft constitution provides in part that everyone living in Tanzania has a right to live in a clean, safe and healthy environment. 

In his keynote presentation, Professor John Bonine from the University of Oregon in the USA outlined the integral connection between human rights and the environment indicating that in the last forty years, more than half of the world’s nations have recognized the constitutional right to a healthy environment.

 “The landmark Stockholm Declaration of 1972 was very significant as it inspired countries to include environmental rights in their supreme laws.” Said Professor Bonine.

He argued that by incorporating the right to a clean and healthy environment in the constitution, national governments show their highest and collective commitment to sustainable development.

Commenting on the role of courts in developing progressive jurisprudence, the renowned international environmental law expert revealed courts in 12 countries have interpreted the right to life and health to include the right to live in a clean and safe environment. 

“High courts in 12 nations have ruled that the right to a healthy and clean environment is implicit in the constitutional right to life and health.” Said professor Bonine adding, “In an even more encouraging move, ninety-two nations have explicitly incorporated the right into their constitutions.”

 Professor Bonine, co-founder of Environmental Law Alliance Worldwide (ELAW), an NGO with members from 80 countries including Tanzania is visiting the University’s Law Faculty to deliver public lectures and inspire public interest lecturers and legal practitioners.

He is a member of the Commission on Environmental Law of the World Conservation Union and an elected member of the International Council of Environmental Lawyers.

His latest publication “Human rights and the environment” is used as a textbook in numerous law schools in the USA including the University of Oregon where he has been teaching Human rights and the environment for the last 45 years.

The University’s Faculty of Law occasionally invites prominent scholars to speak on diverse thematic issues relevant to the promotion and protection of human rights and the environment. Previous visiting scholars included his Lordship Gerard Niyungeko, the then President of the African Court on Human and Peoples Rights (ACHPR).

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POACHING IN EAST AFRICAN COUNTRIES IS MORE THAN WHAT STATISTICS SHOW

Dr.Paula (right)briefing journalists at the press conference from left is Cyril Akko the CEO TATO

Elephant poaching might be an even bigger problem than the East African governments think, a world-renowned wildlife activist has warned.

Dr. Paula Kahumbu, executive director of the Kenya Land Conservation Trust and Wildlife Direct, says the seizure on June 5th of more than 200 elephant tusks in a motor vehicle warehouse in Mombasa was a rude, but necessary awakening for Tanzania and Kenya.

“Look at the official statistics where Kenya says it loses only 365 elephants whereas Tanzania loses 10,000 jumbos a year. To me this is a tip on an iceberg, poaching could be bigger than what we are told” Dr. Kahumbu told media during the EA Premier Karibu Travel Market Tanzania 2014.

The Tanzania Associations of Tour Operators (TATO) owned Karibu TMT, the second largest tourism show in natural resource-rich-continent of Africa after Indaba in South Africa, is registered with the UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO).

The theme of this year’s show taking place at the Heron Recreation Center near Arusha airport is ‘Sustainable Conservation’ which is reflection of TATO’s ‘foreign policy’ existing for the last three decades.

Dr. Kahumbu was invited to Karibu TMT in a bid to share her vast experience on conservation and the campaign against elephant poaching in Kenya with Tanzania tourism stakeholders, mainly TATO members.

TATO has also been focusing on wildlife conservation and security as the area of grave concern apart from its other mainstream roles. 

Dr. Kahumbu told international and local media on Friday that Mombasa seizure does not only exposes the magnitude of the problem, but also this huge haul, following a tipoff to local police authorities, confirms Mombasa’s pivotal role as a transit point for smuggling ivory out of Africa.

“The photographs show some gigantic tusks, undoubtedly from Kenya’s greatest tuskers. One enormous tusk in particular stood out; it can surely be linked to an individual elephant” she noted.

These can only have come from killing fields in Kenya’s flagship National Parks, like Tsavo, Marsabit, Samburu and Masai Mara, Dr. Kahumbu said, adding that the last refuges for these magnificent animals are no longer safe havens, and are under siege by increasingly well-armed and equipped poachers.

Lately, TATO has been in the forefront of lots of conservation initiatives, specifically the provision of education and leading relevant discussion forums on sustainable conservation and wildlife security of which the Karibu TMT has also acted as one of the forums.

Karibu TMT which took off on Friday also will include among others:  Music Concert with Tanzanian poet and storyteller Mrisho Mpoto presenting his hit song ‘Deni La Hisani’ (A Debt of Courtesy), a public call to action to end poaching in Tanzania – today (Sunday), 8^th June.

Chairperson of the Karibu TMT organizing committee, Vesna Glamocanin Tibaijuka says that Dr. Kahumbu was invited to share her valuable experience on a Community based conservation where she has been successful in projects of mitigating human-wildlife conflict in East Africa.

“More importantly:  there will be a launch of TATO anti-poaching Song as well as Children and Conservation where educational short DVDs Nature for Kids will be introduced at the kids corner” Mrs Tibaijuka noted.

This year’s fair attracted more than 8000 visitors from EAC partner states, South Africa, China, the US, and Europe.

In fact, Karibu TMT has become ‘the place to meet’ for the region’s travel industry partners with others from around the world.

TATO Chairman, Willy Chambullo said that should the current generation fail in battle against poaching the next generation will have no elephant to show.

“We need to join hands together to rescue elephants from being decimated by poachers. We need these animals to remain for the future generations to appreciate like our ancestors did for us” Mr Chambullo explained.

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