Kigwangalla suspends ministry’s wildlife director
What you need to know:
- Among others, Prof Songorwa was alleged to have been working according to the directives of hunting company Ortello Business Corporation (OBC) from the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Dar es Salaam. Minister of Natural Resources and Tourism, Dr Hamisi Kigwangalla, on Sunday November 5 suspended the ministry’s director of wildlife, Prof Alexander Songorwa, for alleged misconduct.
“The director has been attacking the government by leaking its sensitive information to the media with a view to fueling the Loliondo dispute at a time when the ministry is striving hard to solve it,” said the minister.
Among others, Prof Songorwa was alleged to have been working according to the directives of hunting company Ortello Business Corporation (OBC) from the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
The new development came after the minister made an impromptu visit to Serengeti National Park, which borders Loliondo Game-Controlled Reserve, which has been facing a land dispute for a long time.
“On Saturday there was information circulating that the minister would tour Loliondo with two private cars and he would sleep at the Acacia Hotel in Karatu District, hence threatening the security of government officials,” he added.
Dr Kigwangalla went on to explain that the wildlife director was linked to illegal issuance of hunting plots.
The minister also directed the Prevention and Combating of Corruption Bureau (PCCB) to investigate the corruption allegations against OBC hunting company.
Meanwhile, Dr Kigwangalla removed security officers from Loliondo game reserve’s Kleins gate, saying they had been favouring the investor, OBC Company.
On October 22, the minister terminated all hunting licences issued in the same year by his predecessor, Prof Jumanne Maghembe, and directed that the plots be issued through an auction as part of efforts to encourage transparency in the docket.
