NEWS:"District authorities seek to make sure local residents, investors enjoy peace."

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INNOCENT-THE BLOGGER-BOY

Tarime District Commissioner Glorius Luoga.

District authorities in Tarime have embarked on an initiative to improve relationship between investors in the mining and tourism sectors and the communities that surround them.

 

Tarime District Commissioner Glorius Luoga told reporters yesterday that the initiative is already yielding good fruits including introduction of a special, Citizens’ Fund.

 

“The Fund will among other things be utilised to better health services at the district hospital,” he said. 

 

“Over the past few years, communities living adjacent to investment areas in the said sectors have developed negative feelings towards the investors which has regretably caused loss of lives and property,” he went on to note. He cited the giant gold miner Acacia that operates at the main North Mara Mine in the region commending it for what he described as ‘tireless efforts to contribute towards socio-economic development.’

 

He noted that only last week, the firm donated 225m/- in cash as contribution to a fundraising event initiated by the District Commissioner.The funds are to help rehabilitate the district hospital that is in dire need of medical equipment for its maternity ward.

 

Under the intiative, the authorities have also introduced regular inter-personal meetings between village authorities surrounding the Serengeti National Park.

 

“There is a need to educate the masses on preservation of national reserves for the sake of future generations,” the DC said. Notably, the Serengeti National Park contributed 6,000 iron sheets to the Tarime Council last year.

 

“Serengeti National Park has also supported various social projects ranging from education and health to water projects,” noted the DC.

 

“This intiative also aims at increasing participation of Tarime residents in sustainable development and help stop violation of human rights and crime,” he said.

 

''The government introduced a special police zone in Tarime and Rorya districts in 2009 due to security deterioration from ethnic fighting, cattle rustling,” the DC went on to say. 

 

“…but we have to embark on other programmes that will help residnets engage actively in nation building activities,” said the DC.

 

''We are of the opinion that in the coming eight or so years, residents here, especially the youth, will shun criminal activities like cattle rustling, mine intrusion and ethnic clashes and instead they will actively engage in nation building activities,” he summed up.