Natural Resources Deputy Minister Challenges Conservation Soldiers To Fight Against Wildlife ,Forest Poaching

 

By STAFF REPORTER 

THE government has challenged the Conservation Commissioners (CC) to train a record number of conservation soldiers in order to stabilise and speed- up the fight against poaching of wildlife and forest resources across the country. 

The call was made over the weekend in Katavi region by the Deputy Minister in the Ministry Natural Resources and Tourism, Dastun Kitandula during his remarks to close the initial military training (recruit course) for at least  296 soldiers of the Wildlife and Forestry Conservation Army at the Mlele Training Center, Katavi Region.

He observed that most of the country’s potential wildlife and forest  resources are facing a major threat of extincting due to an array of unfriendly human activities, the poor development which calls for serious intervention. 

Apart from hailing the 296 soldiers for completing the vital training, he challenged them to prioritize patriotism and integrity in carrying out their daily duties while asking them to follow existing laws, regulations and procedures.

"I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate all 296 graduates for graduating this important initial military training and also, I commend the great efforts made by the Ministry through the Coordination Unit of the Conservation Army, the facilitators of this training from the Tanzania People's Defence Force (JWTZ), and trainers from the Police Force," Minister Kitandula expressed. 

And the Minister asked the qualified conservation soldiers to embrace a spirit of patriotism and high determination in their daily executions, saying the parent ministry was ready to mete out serious punitive measure against those who will work in discordant to the set regulations. 

"I am aware  that there have been some unscrupulous soldiers who are violating the ethics and taboos of their work by getting involved in accepting bribes and using excessive force, this is not acceptable at all," he warned.

He sounded to have been optimisticthat the equipped soldiers will implement their daily duties with great professionalism under the auspices and regulations set by the Conservation Army and the government as a whole.

Some of the important things that the Soldiers have learned during their training include field techniques, administration and leadership, patriotism, the best way to patrol, General Orders, the use of various weapons, various quarters, Ethics of leaders and their followers, respectand military discipline, the philosophy of military salute, first aid delivery, safe capture, search and investigation procedures, dealing with forest and wildlife fire disasters, map reading and other important things.

"I know that this training was not easy, especially considering that it is the first time for many of you to receive this kind of training, I also realize that throughout the training period you have learned many things in theory and practice," Deputy Minister Kitandula congratulated the graduates.

Among others, Minister Kitandula has asked the Institutions that make up the Conservation Force to comply with the instructions given earlier by allocating funds from their budgets for repairing and improving the existing infrastructure at various wildlife training facilities, as well as building other new infrastructure to meet the needs offacility and training provided.

"It is my hope that in the next financial year (2024/25) this center will be built with the best infrastructure environment according to the current needs in strengthening the Conservation of Wildlife and Forest resources in this country," he stressed.

Speaking before welcoming the Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Tourism, Deputy Secretary General of the Ministry, CP. Benedict Wakulyamba has instructed the soldiers to be careful in the implementation of their duties while stressing that the duty of the soldiers is to provide a service to protect the resources of the country.