The government on Wednesday ordered a US firm out of a disputed tourism hunting block in Arusha in a bid to end a long-running standoff with another foreign company over hunting rights.
The order was served against Wengert Windrose Safaris (WWS) Tanzania Limited which has been embroiled in a bitter dispute with an United Arab Emirates company, Green Miles Safaris over allotted hunting rights in the animal-rich corridor around Lake Natron, Longido District.
Both the US and the UEA companies have waged local and international campaigns against each other as they tried to take control of the multi-billion shillings trophy hunting business.
Wednesday's announcement by the government is the latest in a string of efforts to resolve the row that begun in 2011 when a fresh round of allocation of the hunting blocks was done.
The WWS is registered in Tanzania as a charitable fund running tourism hunting and conservation projects. It is part of Texas registered Friedkin Conservation Fund (FCF) owned by a wealth US family, which also operates another local company known as Tanzania Game Trackers Safaris.
Green Mile Safari official Gharib Ali said it has already been officially notified to resume tourist hunting in the area after it was stopped in 2014 over alleged violations on animal rights and hunting procedures. The firm is partly owned by Sheikh Abdulla Bin Mohammed Bin Butti al-Hamed, a member of the United Arab Emirates royal family.
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Showing posts with label Friedkin Conservation Fund. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Friedkin Conservation Fund. Show all posts
Thursday, 14 July 2016
Thursday, 25 February 2016
TANZANIA: More Suspects In British Chopper Pilot Killing Held
HELICOPTER pilot Roger Gower, right, assists with anti-poaching activities in Tanzania’s Katavi National Park. On January 28, he died after he was shot by poachers while trying to track them down.
MORE suspects have been arrested in connection with the killing of British helicopter pilot Roger Gower by poachers recently.
Impeccable sources close to the investigations team said about 12 suspects have been arrested while the manhunt was closing in on additional suspect yesterday.
A source revealed that antipoaching operations have been intensified nationwide since the slaying of the British helicopter pilot, netting eight suspects and 21 rifles within the Selous Game Reserve in Mahenge District.
The ‘Daily News’ contacted the Minister of Natural Resources and Tourism, Prof Jumanne Maghembe, who directed this reporter to contact the Simiyu Regional Police Commander for a detailed report on the matter.
“Yes, we have more suspects in custody..... contact the Simiyu RPC, who will give you more details. We have also intensified anti-poaching operations countrywide,” he explained. Efforts to contact the Simiyu RPC were futile as his phone was not reachable.
Prof Maghembe noted that the Simiyu RPC would hold a press conference today on the matter, adding that at the policy level, together with Home Affairs Minister Charles Katanga, they will hold another press conference tomorrow.
The Friedkin Conservation Fund was quoted saying that among suspects arrested are members of a network providing illegal weapons and smuggling ivory. Gower, 37, was helping authorities in the country to track the criminals when they opened fire on his aircraft on January 29.
President John Magufuli has condemned the killing of the British conservationist, who worked for the Friedkin Conservation Fund.
“This is a sad incident that must be strongly condemned,” Dr Magufuli said in a statement, ordering all those involved to be “aggressively pursued and brought to justice.”
“I personally support the fight against poaching in our game reserves and national parks let us join hands against the poachers,” added the president. Gower’s South African colleague, safari guide Nicky Bester, survived the helicopter crash.
Tanzania National Parks (TANAPA) spokesman Pascal Shelutete was quoted saying that poachers can be “heavily armed with sophisticated military weaponry.
” Ivory is sought out for jewelry and decorative objects and much of it is smuggled to China, where wealthy shoppers are reported to be increasingly buying ivory trinkets as a sign of financial success. It is estimated that more than 30,000 elephants are killed for their tusks every year across Africa.
Impeccable sources close to the investigations team said about 12 suspects have been arrested while the manhunt was closing in on additional suspect yesterday.
A source revealed that antipoaching operations have been intensified nationwide since the slaying of the British helicopter pilot, netting eight suspects and 21 rifles within the Selous Game Reserve in Mahenge District.
The ‘Daily News’ contacted the Minister of Natural Resources and Tourism, Prof Jumanne Maghembe, who directed this reporter to contact the Simiyu Regional Police Commander for a detailed report on the matter.
“Yes, we have more suspects in custody..... contact the Simiyu RPC, who will give you more details. We have also intensified anti-poaching operations countrywide,” he explained. Efforts to contact the Simiyu RPC were futile as his phone was not reachable.
Prof Maghembe noted that the Simiyu RPC would hold a press conference today on the matter, adding that at the policy level, together with Home Affairs Minister Charles Katanga, they will hold another press conference tomorrow.
The Friedkin Conservation Fund was quoted saying that among suspects arrested are members of a network providing illegal weapons and smuggling ivory. Gower, 37, was helping authorities in the country to track the criminals when they opened fire on his aircraft on January 29.
President John Magufuli has condemned the killing of the British conservationist, who worked for the Friedkin Conservation Fund.
“This is a sad incident that must be strongly condemned,” Dr Magufuli said in a statement, ordering all those involved to be “aggressively pursued and brought to justice.”
“I personally support the fight against poaching in our game reserves and national parks let us join hands against the poachers,” added the president. Gower’s South African colleague, safari guide Nicky Bester, survived the helicopter crash.
Tanzania National Parks (TANAPA) spokesman Pascal Shelutete was quoted saying that poachers can be “heavily armed with sophisticated military weaponry.
” Ivory is sought out for jewelry and decorative objects and much of it is smuggled to China, where wealthy shoppers are reported to be increasingly buying ivory trinkets as a sign of financial success. It is estimated that more than 30,000 elephants are killed for their tusks every year across Africa.
Thursday, 18 February 2016
TANZANIA: Four Jailed After Murdering British Pilot
Four Tanzanians facing trial for the murder of a British conservationist whose helicopter was shot down have been jailed for 20 years for possessing firearms, lawyers said on Friday.
Roger Gower, 37, died when suspected poachers gunned down his helicopter during a patrol of the Maswa Game Reserve in northern Tanzania, close to the world famous Serengeti National Park, on January 29.
Photographs of the crashed helicopter show twisted metal, apparent bullet holes in the fuselage and smears of blood on the pilot's seat.
Four men have been charged with Gower's murder: Shija Mjika, 38, Njile Gunga, 28, Dotto Pangali, 42, and Moses Mandago, 28.
Although they face murder trial in the high court, on Thursday they were found guilty of the possession of guns and ammunition at a separate hearing.
“The suspects pleaded guilty of being in unlawful possession of firearms and rounds of ammunition,” said senior government prosecutor Yamiko Mlekano.
“The court on Thursday sentenced them to 10 years imprisonment each for possessing firearms, and 20 years each for being found with ammunition.” The sentences will run concurrently.
They have not yet entered any plea concerning the murder charges, which carries a potential death sentence if found guilty, although Tanzania has not carried out capital punishment for decades, with scores of prisoners in jail on death row.
Gower, who worked for the Friedkin Conservation Fund, had been tracking poachers after spotting the carcasses of recently killed elephants.
It is estimated that more than 30 000 elephants are killed for their tusks every year across Africa.
Their ivory is prized for jewellery and decorative objects and much of it is smuggled to China, where many increasingly wealthy shoppers are buying ivory trinkets as a sign of financial success.
Roger Gower, 37, died when suspected poachers gunned down his helicopter during a patrol of the Maswa Game Reserve in northern Tanzania, close to the world famous Serengeti National Park, on January 29.
Photographs of the crashed helicopter show twisted metal, apparent bullet holes in the fuselage and smears of blood on the pilot's seat.
Four men have been charged with Gower's murder: Shija Mjika, 38, Njile Gunga, 28, Dotto Pangali, 42, and Moses Mandago, 28.
Although they face murder trial in the high court, on Thursday they were found guilty of the possession of guns and ammunition at a separate hearing.
“The suspects pleaded guilty of being in unlawful possession of firearms and rounds of ammunition,” said senior government prosecutor Yamiko Mlekano.
“The court on Thursday sentenced them to 10 years imprisonment each for possessing firearms, and 20 years each for being found with ammunition.” The sentences will run concurrently.
They have not yet entered any plea concerning the murder charges, which carries a potential death sentence if found guilty, although Tanzania has not carried out capital punishment for decades, with scores of prisoners in jail on death row.
Gower, who worked for the Friedkin Conservation Fund, had been tracking poachers after spotting the carcasses of recently killed elephants.
It is estimated that more than 30 000 elephants are killed for their tusks every year across Africa.
Their ivory is prized for jewellery and decorative objects and much of it is smuggled to China, where many increasingly wealthy shoppers are buying ivory trinkets as a sign of financial success.
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