DAR ES SALAAM, July 26 (Xinhua) -- A Tanzanian government minister on Thursday ordered authorities in western region of Kigoma to immediately evict foreign nationals who have invaded and settled in wildlife protected reserves.
Minister for Natural Resources and Tourism Hamisi Kigwangalla accused the local authorities of laxity leading to foreigners from neighbouring countries invading the protected reserves and inflicting damage on the areas.
Kigoma region is situated on the shores of Lake Tanganyika, the second oldest freshwater lake in the world, and its neighbours are Burundi, Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
"The invasion of wildlife protected reserves is being done under the watch of government authorities," said Kigwangalla.
Kigwangalla said intelligence reports in his possession indicated that foreigners had settled in and were conducting human activities within Moyowosi and Kigosi game reserves located in Kibondo district as well as Makere forest reserve in Kasulu district.
Apart from illegal human settlements within the reserves, farming, livestock keeping as well as poaching were also rampant but with authorities doing nothing to stop the illegalities, said Kigwangalla.
"It is unimaginable that leaders who were expected to be patriotic were instead allowing foreigners to do as they wished in protected areas that we do not allow even our citizens to settle insaid the minister," said the minister. "This is unacceptable."
At the same time, Kigwangalla issued a three-month ultimatum to individuals who were living or conducting human activities within protected areas to leave voluntarily or face eviction.
Kigwangalla gave the same order last week in Busega district, Simiyu region, where he directed that individuals who have encroached Kijereshi Game Reserve should leave. Enditem
