The PARLIAMENTARY Committee on Industry, Trade and Environment commended President Hussein Mwinyi’s prioritisation of environmental conservation while executing various projects in Zanzibar.
On behalf of the members of the committee, Mr David Kihenzile, chairperson, stated that the Zanzibar government had been implementing a variety schemes but also prioritised professional environmental conservation, climate adaptation, mitigation measures, and climate change adaptation.
After visiting Matemwe, North Unguja Region, the legislators from Zanzibar as well as the mainland, they received the message from Dr Mwinyi’s administration. They were able to see how climate change adaptation and mitigation was implemented alongside development projects.
Mr Kihenzile indicated that the office for the Isles First Vice President responsible for environment conservation has been doing excellent work to ensure that projects undergo EIA, or Environmental Impact Assessment, with the goal of avoiding any environmental damage.
The chairperson of the committee stated that while we were unable to visit many projects, the law makers who have visited a few have expressed satisfaction that the issues of climate change and environmental conservation were being considered as they implemented multi-million dollar development projects.
He expressed gratitude to the leaders of Unguja North Region for their cooperation and shared firsthand information about how environment conservation should be done in any area.
The chairperson of this committee said that more than 17bn/$ had been allocated for the five-year-long “Climate Change Resilience Project”, which is being implemented across five regions of Tanzania, including one region in Zanzibar.
Khamis Hamza, Deputy Minister-Office of the Vice President (Union and Environment), stated that the legislators’ visit was intended to strengthen the existing relations between Mainland and Zanzibar.
According to Dr Omar Dadi Shajak, the Permanent Secretary-Office of Zanzibar, the Climate Change Ressilience Project also included the purchase six modern fishing boats for Matemwe villagers to improve their fishing activities. This was in an attempt to divert their attentions from cutting and selling tree income.
He said that the procurement contract was signed in March and that delivery of the boats will be made by the end.
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Ms Farhat Mabarouk, Department of Environment Director, said that the project’s goal was to also address climate change. This included restoring vegetation using an eco-system approach and providing education about agriculture that is resilient to climate change.
She added that the Climate Change Resilience Project also provides capacity building for members of the community to find alternative livelihoods without destroying the environment.
The Climate Change Resilience Project utilizing Rural Ecological Framework is funded through the International Environment Fund (UNEP). It’s implemented and supervised in collaboration by both governments by respective ministries responsible to the environment and the Ministry of Agriculture.
