Selous Game Reserve conservation group secures 45m/- boost

The Friends of Mbaranga’ndu Chairperson Moshen Abdallah Shein (centre) shakes hands with the Mbaranga’ndu Wildlife Management Area (WMA) Chairperson David Mgalla (left) during a handover ceremony of a dummy cheque worth 45m/- that will finance various development projects in and around the Selous Game Reserve. Second left is the Mantra Tanzania Country Manager Asa Mwaipopo , Namtumbo MP Vita Kawawa (left)and newly appointed Namtumbo District Commissioner Abdallah Suleiman Lutavi (second left). Photo by our photographer.

By BUSINESS REPORTER

THREE companies operating in Namtumbo District, Ruvuma Region that include Mantra Tanzania, Game Frontiers Tanzania and Tanganyika Wildlife Safari Corporation Limited under the ‘Friends of Mbarangandu’ umbrella have donated forty five million shillings to help support various Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programs in seven villages within Mbaranga’ndu Wildlife Management Area (WMA) in the Selous Game Reserve.

The funds will among other projects finance education, water, bee keeping and tightening of security in the Selous Game reserve in a bid to intensify fight against poaching.

An elephant in Tanzania's Selous Game Reserve

Speaking during the handover ceremony held at the weekend, Friends of Mbarangandu Chairperson Moshen Abdallah Shein said they have already given up to 300m/- to support various community development projects in the last few years.

“Our support is to ensure that communities where we operate get access to basic services.  We realize the importance of having good investor-community relations that is why we do whatsoever is possible to ensure that our relations get better.

Sheni urged local communities to play a leading role in ensuring that resources within their area among which include the Selous Game Reserve remain intact if they are to continue benefiting from the present and upcoming investors.

“You are getting support from various investors because you have resources that include wild life which are renewable. Play your part well by ensuring that such resources remain intact otherwise investors won’t have anything to give out if such resources are depleted,” he urged.

The Mantra Tanzania Managing Director Asa Mwaipopo during the occasion said his company will work hand in hand with various communities in ensuring that Namtumbo’s environment and surrounding are preserved.

“We are awaiting an operation license for our Mkuju River Uranium Project and once it is secured, we will work hand in hand with all stakeholders in ensuring that the surrounding areas are conserved like we have done in the past,” he said.

The Namtumbo Constituency Member of Parliament Vita Kawawa however urged the beneficiaries to ensure that the funds are used on the principal of transparency and accountability in order to ensure that all communities benefit.

“You should not develop hatred amongst you selves. These funds are for the benefit of the entire community. Please ensure that these funds serve the intended purposes,” he cautioned.

Earlier, the newly appointed Namtumbo District Commissioner Abdallah Suleiman Lutavi said there was need for the Government to look for community - friendly investors to minimize the occurrence of wrangles between communities and investors.