Minister for the docket, Mr Lazaro Nyalandu.
BY POLYCARP MACHIRA
The National Assembly has ordered new investigations on the circumstances that surrounded the whereabouts of 116 live wild animals and 16 birds alleged to have been smuggled out of the country to Qatar in November 2010.
The Parliament expressed concern that while many government officials including security details at the Kilimanjaro International Airport (KIA) where the animals were flown from were involved, only one person has been jailed for the offence.
In 2011 the media reported about a syndicate in live wild animals trade having conspired and successfully smuggled the animals out of the country aboard a Qatar Air Force plane.
It was reported that the aircraft had been cleared to land at (KIA), and then in the wee hours of November 26, 2010, it took off for Doha bearing a live wildlife cargo comprising 14 species, all valued at $113,715 (Sh170 million).
The cargo alleged to have been smuggled in 2010 included four giraffes. Under CITES rules giraffes can only be exported if offered as a present by a head of state to his counterpart or issued for approved purposes, such as research.
But the matter resurfaced in the National Assembly on Thursday while legislators were debating the 2015/2016 budget estimates for the ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism.
Hot debate ensued in the House as they demanded explanations from the government why only 15 suspects were sent to court, among them, only one was convicted.
Resident Magistrate court in Moshi last year handed a 60-year jail term to Pakistani Kamran Ahmed after finding him guilty of four counts related to export of live wildlife without permits.
The animals, valued at $113,715 (equivalent to Sh170.5 million) were exported to Doha, Qatar.
Contributing on the debate, shadow minister for Natural Resources and Tourism, Peter Msigwa (Chadema), sought Parliament intervention over the matter by asking Speaker’s guidance.
The Iringa Urban MP, said three years have passed since the government promised to conduct investigation over whether there were other officials involved in shipping the live animals, but there was no feedback.
Speaker of the National Assembly, Anne Makinda, was therefore forced to direct the Parliamentary Committee on Lands, Environment and Natural Resources, chaired by the Kahama MP James Lembeli (CCM) to embark on the probe over the concern and come up with the findings.
The Speaker also tasked the committee to work on recommendations from MPs to put in place regulations that would address conflicts between National Parks and pastoralists.
The regulations are meant to set consensus between pastoralists and National parks and control killings of cattle by game rangers after entering the parks.
Msigwa’s argument was backed by lawmaker for Simanjiro, Mr Christopher Ole-Sendeka, who said it did not make sense that the plane acquired all permit documents from different authorities in the country then only 15 were sent to court.
“This is a long chain involving many officials from different government institutions who facilitated the entering of the plane and exporting of the animals,” he said.
“I support Mr Msigwa on this, we should make a follow up on this in order to ensure that all those responsible should be sent to court and be jailed,” he said.
On the response, Minister for the docket, Mr Lazaro Nyalandu, defended himself that when the scandal emerged he was not yet appointed as Minister.
He, however, said the then Minister Ezekiel Maige dealt with the matter and it was already concluded by the court.
The debate swiftly moved to Attorney General (AG), Mr George Masaju to intervene to calm down the mood of the Mps. Mr Masaju assured that the government was still continuing with the investigations on other officials and it was still collecting evidences to enable culprits to be sent to court.
He called on the lawmakers to be patient because the government could not send to court other suspects without having enough evidences for proof
SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN
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