Yet they tell us there is no money for roads, schools, etc
Who is responsible for this and why have they not been fired. The incompetence and lack of accountability in Tanzania is beyond sickening.
`Govt losing over 58bn/- forest revenue due to...
2008-04-12 10:40:51
By Felister Peter
Central and local governments lose about 96 per cent of revenues from forest products due to under-collection of royalties, it has been disclosed.
The Deputy Head of Mission at the Embassy of Finland, Satu Santala, said during the launch of Mama Misitu Campaign in Dar es Salaam on Thursday that nationwide losses of revenue to the forestry and beekeeping division amount to USD 58 million per year, while districts and local governments currently collect only 5 per cent of the potential forest revenue.
She said, with all resources it has, Tanzania should not have been poor if the government collected millions in lost revenues, as it would have significantly obtained more money to invest in services for its people.
Santala said that up to 87 per cent of Tanzanian`s rural population depend on forest and woodland for livelihood, so it is important for the government to maintain ecological services that forests provide for national development.
She said more efforts are needed to ensure policy and legislation that support participation of communities in forest management are fully and efficiently implemented.
Professor Wangari Maathai from Kenya said that Tanzania has great forest reserves, especially in the southern part of the country which, if are properly utilized, would help to improve the lives of many poor people.
Prof Maathai said, if there is no serious management of forest resources the gap between the poor and rich people will continue to widen.
``We have to control our resources in an accountable manner otherwise revenues will continue to be lost and only few people will live happily,`` she said.
She said Tanzania should also think of adding value to its forest products to earn more. Exporting products that are raw will not help people benefit because, at the end of the day, the country will be turned to be a buyer of products that originate from within.
Prof Maathai said the government should make sure it controls corruption at all levels of timber trade because corruption has now become a big problem in countries of East Africa.
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism, Blandina Nyoni, said the government is set to control illegal timber trade at central and local governments.
She said so far, they have established new revenue collection systems and improved fee payments. Forest development plans have been established and change of the entire leadership at the ministry`s forest department, district and regions has been effected.
SOURCE: Guardian
http://www.ippmedia.com/ipp/guardian/2008/04/12/112239.html
Who is responsible for this and why have they not been fired. The incompetence and lack of accountability in Tanzania is beyond sickening.
`Govt losing over 58bn/- forest revenue due to...
2008-04-12 10:40:51
By Felister Peter
Central and local governments lose about 96 per cent of revenues from forest products due to under-collection of royalties, it has been disclosed.
The Deputy Head of Mission at the Embassy of Finland, Satu Santala, said during the launch of Mama Misitu Campaign in Dar es Salaam on Thursday that nationwide losses of revenue to the forestry and beekeeping division amount to USD 58 million per year, while districts and local governments currently collect only 5 per cent of the potential forest revenue.
She said, with all resources it has, Tanzania should not have been poor if the government collected millions in lost revenues, as it would have significantly obtained more money to invest in services for its people.
Santala said that up to 87 per cent of Tanzanian`s rural population depend on forest and woodland for livelihood, so it is important for the government to maintain ecological services that forests provide for national development.
She said more efforts are needed to ensure policy and legislation that support participation of communities in forest management are fully and efficiently implemented.
Professor Wangari Maathai from Kenya said that Tanzania has great forest reserves, especially in the southern part of the country which, if are properly utilized, would help to improve the lives of many poor people.
Prof Maathai said, if there is no serious management of forest resources the gap between the poor and rich people will continue to widen.
``We have to control our resources in an accountable manner otherwise revenues will continue to be lost and only few people will live happily,`` she said.
She said Tanzania should also think of adding value to its forest products to earn more. Exporting products that are raw will not help people benefit because, at the end of the day, the country will be turned to be a buyer of products that originate from within.
Prof Maathai said the government should make sure it controls corruption at all levels of timber trade because corruption has now become a big problem in countries of East Africa.
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism, Blandina Nyoni, said the government is set to control illegal timber trade at central and local governments.
She said so far, they have established new revenue collection systems and improved fee payments. Forest development plans have been established and change of the entire leadership at the ministry`s forest department, district and regions has been effected.
SOURCE: Guardian
http://www.ippmedia.com/ipp/guardian/2008/04/12/112239.html
