TAMKO LA LEAT KULAANI JARIBIO LA KUMUUA NDUGU TUNDU ANTIPHAS MUGHWAI LISSU

Ndugu. Tundu Antiphas Mughwai Lissu

Timu ya Wanasheria Watetezi wa Mazingira kwa Vitendo (LEAT) imepokea kwa mshituko na simanzi kubwa jaribio la kumuua Ndugu Tundu Antiphas Mughwai Lissu huko Dodoma mnamo tarehe 7 Septemba 2017. Jaribio hilo si tu ni la kinyama bali lilitendwa kwa lengo moja tu, kumuua Ndugu Lissu.

Waliotenda jaribio hilo, na wale waliowatuma, walilenga kumnyamazisha milele Tundu Lissu. LEAT inasema kuwa wote hao ni watu waovu ambao hawana hata chembe ya utu kwani dhamira zao zimekufa. Damu ya Lissu waliyoimwaga itaendelea kuwalilia na kuwaandama wao na vizazi vyao. Damu yake, kwa upande mwingine, itawachochea Watanzania na wapenda haki na amani kusema ukweli wakati wote bila woga.

Ndugu Lissu alifanya kazi nasi hapa LEAT kwa kipindi cha miaka 10 (1998-2008) na katika miaka hiyo alishiriki kwa ujasiri na ufahamu mkubwa katika kampeni mbali mbali za kupigania utunzaji bora wa mazingira na maliasili za nchi yetu. Aidha, alishiriki katika kampeni za kufichua jinsi ambavyo madini ya nchi yetu yalikuwa yanaporwa kupitia mikataba mibovu ya madini pamoja na sheria mbovu za madini, kodi, na mauzo. Aliwasemea bila woga wachimbaji wadogo walioporwa migodi yao na kampuni hizo zikisaidiwa na vyombo vya dola vya nchi yetu. LEAT inajivunia na kuienzi kazi aliyoifanya ambayo matokeo yake yanaonekana kwa serikali kuanza kuchukua hatua za kubadilisha sheria za madini na petroli pamoja na kuanza majadiliano na makampuni ya madini.

LEAT inataka kufanya uchunguzi huru kuweza kuwabaini wote waliohusika na jaribio hili la kinyama ambalo ni kinyume cha ibara ya 14 ya Katiba ya nchi yetu ikiwa ni pamoja na wale waliowatuma na kuwafikisha katika vyombo vya sheria. Jaribio hili,  pamoja na matukio mengine kama haya ambayo yamepita bila kuchukuliwa hatua, yamechafua vibaya sana taswira na heshima ya nchi yetu. Ni lazima yakomeshwe kwa kufanywa kwa uchunguzi huru, kuwashika na kuwapeleka mahakamani waliyoyatenda.  Kutokufanywa kwa hayo ni kubariki na kuyachagiza na ni kinyume cha dhana ya utawala wa sheria.

LEAT inatoa pole sana kwa Tundu Lissu, mkewe (Alicia) na wanawe, wanachama wa Chama cha Mawakili wa Tanganyika (TLS), wapiga kura wake wa Jimbo la Singida Mashariki, wabunge wenzake, chama chake cha Chadema, Watanzania wote na watu wote wapenda haki, demokrasia ya kweli, amani, na utawala wa sheria.

Tunamuomba Mwenyezi Mungu aendelee kumtendea miuujiza na kumponya Tundu Lissu haraka. Amina.

http://leat.or.tz.dnnmax.com/NewsCenter/TabId/193/ArtMID/880/ArticleID/1122/

LOCALS TAKE ACTION TO END DESTRUCTIVE MINING IN THEIR COMMUNITY

VILLAGERS TURN TO ADVOCACY TO SAVE THEIR  

LOCAL FOREST RESERVE

June 2017—Residents of Mfyome village were desperate. For years, residents in Mfyome village had relied in the Ganga la Mtumba forest reserve found within their village for their livelihood. However, spurred by the belief that the area contained gold deposits, small-scale miners flooded the area for mining activity contrary to the law. As a result, permanent residents were quickly losing access to the local forests their families had relied on for generations.

“We were all victims of resource loss,” said Mfyome resident Chuki Mduda. “My fellow villagers and I would always complain over the ever-increasing mining taking place in our village’s forest reserve.”

Millions of Tanzanians rely on the land and its resources to make a living and provide for their loved ones—but it can come at a steep price. Population growth, environmental mismanagement, and commercial expansion increasingly put Tanzania’s natural assets at risk, spelling disaster for rural communities. Without the knowledge and resources to respond at the grassroots level, villages like Mfyome risked losing it all.

It wasn’t until residents teamed up with USAID in 2014 that Mfyome village was able to put their fears to rest. In partnership with the Lawyers’ Environmental Action Team—one of Tanzania’s premier environmental protection organizations—USAID trained 35 natural resources committee members (villagers) in environmental law and natural resource management. Before long, trainees were able to recognize and crack down on illegal environmental practices without outside assistance.

Once the training was completed, villagers quickly realized the nearby mining operations were not just destructive, but downright illegal. To start with, the miners failed to conduct an environmental impact assessment of the area, which is required for any activity that could impact the environment or public health. Without this assessment, the permission granted by district officials was null and void. Armed with these insights, residents had everything they needed to stop local prospecting dead in its tracks.

“After the trainings, we recognized that the miners were undertaking their activities illegally and did not have an environmental certificate as required by law,” recalled Mduda. “We also arrested a truck driver who was transporting mineral ores. We fined him and banned him from ever mining in our village.”

With the mining crisis now behind them, residents can once again dream of a better future for their community. It’s a bittersweet victory: while they have retaken control of their village, it will be some time before nearby woodlands fully recover. But that doesn’t deter locals. Now that they have the power to protect the surrounding landscape, they are not only able to watch over the forest’s recovery, but prevent future environmental disasters from happening in the first place.

USAID works with communities like Mfyome to monitor and protect their local environment through the Citizens Engaging in Government Oversight in Natural Resources Management project, a four-year USAID-funded effort implemented by the Lawyers’ Environmental Action Team (LEAT) the project has trained 5,264 citizens (villagers 2977, Village Natural Resources Committee members 1,490, District Natural Resources Officers 27, and Community Based Organizations members (Trainers of the Trainers) 68, and 702 beekeepers) in the two project districts of Mufindi and Iringa in Iringa Region to monitor natural resources and ensure government institutions tasked with environmental oversight are fulfilling their mandate.

MAZINGIRA NI LAZIMA YAHIFADHIWE.

Mkuu wa Mkoa wa Iringa, Bi. Amina Masenza kwa mara nyingine amesisitiza kuwa Mazingira katika Mkoa huo ni lazima yahifadhiwe na kulindwa kwani itasababisha baadhi ya wananchi kuathiriwa kwa namna mbalimbali endapo wataendelea kufanya shughuli zinazoathiri Mazingira.

Mkuu wa Mkoa ametoa Msimamo huo katika kilele cha wiki ya Mazingira ambayo Kimkoa imeadhimishwa katika kijiji cha Mangalali wilaya ya Iringa.

Katika hotuba yake iliyosomwa na Katibu Tawala Msaidizi idara ya Mipango, Bw. Nuhu Mwasumilwe, Mkuu wa Mkoa ametoa changamoto kwa wataalam kufikiri tofauti ili kuja na njia mbadala itakayosaidia kupunguza shughuli zinazosababisha uharibifu wa Mazingira. Na hii ni kutokana na ukweli kuwa, kwa sasa kila mmoja ameshaguswa na athari zinazosababishwa na uharibifu wa Mazingira.

Afisa Maliasi wa Mkoa wa Iringa amesema baadhi ya shughuli zinazofanywa ili kusaidia uhifadhi wa Mazingira ni pamoja ufugaji wa nyuki ambapo mpaka sasa Mkoa unakadiriwa kuwa na mizinga elfu thelathini (30,000) ya watu na vikundi mbalimbali ambapo Timu ya Wanasheria Watetezi wa Mazingira (LEAT) kupitia mradi wake wa Ushiriki wa Wananchi katika Usimamizi wa Maliasili, unaofadhiliwa na Shirika la Misaada la Marekani USAID, ni moja ya wadau waliochangia mizinga hiyo kwa kutoa mizinga 704 kwa vijiji 32 Mkoani Iringa.

 Kikundi cha sanaa Mashujaa kutoka Mfyome wilayani Iringa, wakihamasisha wananchi kutunza mazingira katika kilele cha siku ya mazingira duniani, ambayo kimkoa ilihadhimishwa kijiji cha Mangalali, mkoani Iringa.

 Mgeni Rasmi, Katibu Tawala Msaidizi idara ya Mipango, Bw. Nuhu Mwasumilwe akipanda mti ikiwa kama kumbukumbu ya maadhimisho ya siku ya mazingira duniani katika kijiji cha Mangalali, wilayani Iringa.

 Kikundi cha sanaa Mashujaa kutoka kijiji cha Mfyome wakiwa katika picha ya pamoja baada ya kuamaliza tukio la kupanda mti wa kumbukumbu katika maadhimisho ya siku ya mazingira duniani, kijiji cha Mangalali, Mkoani Iringa.

Afisa Habari na Mawasiliano kutoka LEAT akitoa salamu katika maadhimisho ya kilele cha siku ya mazingira duniani, ambayo kimkoa yalifanyika kijiji cha Malangali, wilayani Iringa, Mkoani Iringa.

PROF. ANNA TIBAIJUKA ATAMKA KUWA GHARAMA YA SERIKALI KUIPUUZA LEAT IMEONEKANA

Mkutano wa Saba wa Bunge umeendelea Dodoma. Kazi kubwa ikiwa ni mapendekezo ya wabunge katika bajeti ya Wizara ya Nishati na Madini ambapo miongoni mwa waliopata nafasi ya kuchangia ni Mbunge wa Muleba Kusini Professor Anna Tibaijuka.

"Mhe Spika kuna Taasisi ya Lawyers' Environmental Action Team (LEAT) ina vijana wamekaa  vizuri sana. Sasa wamekuwa wakipuuzwa wakati wote na gharama ya kupuuzwa mnaiona". Alisema Prof. Anna Tibaijuka.

"Tuweke utamaduni wa kuwaheshimu na kuwasikiliza wataalam wetu. Tukiendelea kuwaita wanaharakati huku tukiwabeza na kuwapuuza, hatutatoka hapa tulipo". Aliongezea Prof. Tibaijuka

Tafadhali fungua video hiyo hapo juu kupata taarifa kwa kirefu.

SEMA KWELI - Tulifikaje na Tunatokaje kisheria

Dr. Rugemeleza Nshala, Mkurugenzi Mtendaji wa Timu ya

Wanasheria Watetezi wa Mazingira kwa Vitendo (LEAT),

amezungumzia suala la Makinikia katika kipindi cha "Sema Kweli"

kilichorushwa tarehe 31.05.2017, saa nne (4) usiku kupitia 

Chanel 10.

Hii ni kutokana na Ripoti ya kamati maalumu ya Rais wa Jamhuri

ya Muungano wa Tanzania juu ya uchunguzi wa kiwango cha

madini.

Dr.Nshala akiwa kama Mwanasheria aliyebobea kwenye masuala

ya mazingira, analizungumzia suala la Madini kwa upana wake. Na 

kuelezea tumefikaje hapa tulipo na tutatokaje kisheria.

Lengo ni kuisaidia nchi, serikali yetu na pengine kumshauri Mhe. 

Rais namna ya kutoka hapa tulipo.

Tafadhali fungua video hapo juu kufuatilia kipindi hiko

Tamko la LEAT juu ya Ripoti ya Kamati Maalum ya Rais kuhusu Mchanganyiko wa Madini katika Makontena.

Timu ya Wanaseheria Watetezi wa Mazingira kwa Vitendo 

(LEAT) Imetoa tamko juu ya Ripoti ya Kamati Maalumu ya Rais juu ya Mchanganyiko wa Madini (Makinikia) katika Makontena yaliyozuiliwa bandarini.

Kwa kifupi LEAT haishangazwi na kile kilichobainika kwani 

ni kile ilichokuwa inakisema miaka yote tokea mwaka 2001. 

LEAT inataka mabadiliko makubwa katika sekta za mafuta, gesi na madini kwani sheria zinazoziongoza zinaruhusu kuporwa kwa rasilimali hizi muhimu za nchi.

Fungua link hii kusoma Tamko hilo.

http://leat.or.tz.dnnmax.com/NewsCenter/TabId/193/artmid/880/articleid/1106/Tamko-la-LEAT-juu-ya-Ripoti-ya-Kamati-Maalum-ya-Rais-kuhusu-Mchanganyiko-wa-Madini-katika-Makontena.aspx

International Day for biological biodiversity: celebrate by protecting biodiversity, not promoting tourism.

21 May, 2017

Tourists waiting to take photographs  of orangutans during feeding 

time at Sepilok Orang Utan Rehabilitation Centre,  

Sabah, 

Malaysia.© Center for Intern

ational Forestry 

Research

22 May 2017 is International day for biodiversity and this year’s theme is tourism. The UN Convention on biodiversity (CBD) is using this opportunity to promote the value of tourism in significantly reducing threats to, and maintaining or increasing key wildlife populations and biodiversity through tourism revenue. It does mention the need to reduce the negative impacts of tourism but, whereas it sings the supposed values of tourism, it merely whispers the negative impacts.

Positive examples of tourism do exist, such as Community Based Tourism projects, which protect territories, livelihoods and cultures. Friends of the Earth has worked with several such initiatives around the world, such as community based eco-curtural tourism in Timor Leste.  Self-governance is essential, as are revenues that go directly to the local community and respect for their traditional ways of generating income. Unfortunately many initiatives don’t survive without the help of NGOs. 

Sadly few sustainable tourism projects are actually viable. 

For example many “ecotourism” initiatives, whilst better for the environment, fail local communities by denying them revenue generation and self-determination. On a global scale, positive tourism is minimal. Yet the few examples that exist are being used to suggest that the entire tourism sector could become sustainable.

The biggest culprit of unsustainable and economically unjust tourism remains mainstream tourism. Indigenous peoples are often evicted from their land to make way for tourist resorts. Human rights abuses are rife, with some cases ending in death for people protecting their land. Hotels are often built on valuable ecosystems, destroying them in the process. Proposals such as the El Salvadoran Government’s tourism project in 2013 which threatened both coastal mangrove forests and local communities often fall foul of more than one injustice. 

Young boy swimming in mangroves in La Tirana, El Salvador ©Friends of the Earth International / Jason Taylor

Indigenous people are often banned from their own territories as sacred sites are privatized, so tourists can enjoy them undisturbed. The profit from tourist resorts remains in the hands of transnational corporations. Furthermore local people are often exploited as workers in these resorts and hotels. A person’s water usage in hotels is significantly higher than at home.  In some cases tourists use 16 times as much water as locals, causing conflict and disease.

Food waste is a huge issue. Even small resorts waste up to 150 tons of food a year, and a staggering 36% of all food purchased ends up in the bin. Cruise liners dump up to 3.8billion litres of sewage in the oceans polluting ecosystems. These are just a few of the issues generated by mainstream tourism.

Sustainable tourism initiatives usually mean a mere change in the levels of waste and energy consumption rather than a change of business model. Initiatives are purely voluntary, a practise which has proved disastrous in other economic sectors. 

It seems unlikely that tourism can become a green industry. 5% of global emissions are linked to tourism, purely for the benefit of richer middle and higher classes. The aviation industry alone plans 700% growth by 2050. It plans to offset its increased emissions through REDD programs. REDD is a false solution and desperately unsustainable.  

Tourism comprises 10% of the global GDP with a projected annual growth of 3-5%. It does not need the promotion for economic development the UN is giving it on this day of International biodiversity.

What tourism needs is policies that respect the rights of local communities and indigenous peoples,

including their right to self-determination, the visitors they receive, a fair share of the revenue, and protection for their ecosystems. Official studies on the negative impacts of corporate tourism and tough measures to prohibit the worst practices are desperately needed. Please help us celebrate International biodiversity day by calling for a change in the tourism business model.

Timu ya SAM ya Wilaya ya Iringa yatoa mrejesho na tathimini ya usimamizi wa maliasili kwa Viongozi wa Halmashauri ya Wilaya ya Iringa

Mkuu wa wilaya ya Iringa, Bw. Richard Kasesela ametoa siku saba kwa Mkurugenzi wa Halmashauri ya wilaya ya Iringa, kutoa maelezo ama kumwajibisha Mtumishi anayekwamisha shughuli za uhifadhi wa Mazingira katika wilaya hiyo.

Kutokana ripoti iliyowasilishwa mwaka jana na Timu ya SAM ya wilaya ya Iringa inayowezeshwa na LEAT kupitia msaada wa watu wa Marekani USAID, iliweza kuibua changamoto mbalimbali za usimamizi wa maliasili na kutoa mapendekezo kwa halmashauri ya wilaya ya Iringa kujaribu kutatua changamoto hizo za kimazingira. Bw. Kasesela alisema walikubaliana mambo mbalimbali yatatekelezwa lakini mpaka hivi, asilimia 80 ya mambo hayo hayajatekelezwa kutokana na baadhi ya watumishi
kutotimiza wajibu wao.

Mkutano huo wa mrejesho wa shughuli za usimamizi wa maliasili uliofanya na Timu ya SAM ya wilaya ya Iriniga kwa kushirikiana na LEAT, ulihudhuriwa na wataalamu na Maafisa wa wilaya ya Iringa, Mkurugenzi wa wilaya na wafanyakazi kutoka LEAT. 

Afisa Mwandamizi wa mradi wa CEGO Bw. Remmy Lema alisema, Pamoja na elimu na kuwasaidia kuboresha sheria za vijiji, katika mradi wa ushiriki wa Wananchi katika usimamizi wa maliasili zao (CEGO), unaofadhiliwa na Shirika la misaada la Marekani USAID, Timu ya watetezi wa Mazingira kwa vitendo LEAT pia imetoa mizinga ya nyuki kwa vijiji kama njia mbadala ya wananchi hao kujikimu kimaisha na tayari
wameshatoa mizinga ya nyuki 704.

TIMU YA SAM YA WILAYA YA MUFINDI YAFANYA ZIARA YA KUTATHMINI UTEKELEZAJI WA SHUGHULI ZA USIMAMIZI WA MALIASILI KATIKA VIJIJI VYA MRADI.

Wajumbe wa Timu ya SAM ya Wilaya ya Mufindi wakifanya mahojiano na uongozi wa kijiji cha Igombavanu juu ya usimamizi wa maliasili za kijiji hicho

Wajumbe wa Timu ya SAM ya Wilaya ya Mufindi wakifanya mahojiano na uongozi wa kijiji cha Mapogoro  juu ya usimamizi wa maliasili za kijiji hicho

Mjumbe akibainisha changamoto za usimamizi wa maliasi katika kijiji cha Ikangamwani

Mwenyekiti wa Timu ya SAM wilaya ya Mufindi Bw. Clemence Mwapelwa akiitambulisha Timu ya Ufuatiliaji wa Ufuatiliaji jamii kwa uongozi wa kijiji cha Ikangamwani

Wajumbe wa Timu ya SAM wakifanya tathmini ya pamoja juu ya mafanikio na changamoto za usimamizi wa maliasili kutokana na ziara zilizofanyika katika vijiji vya Igombavanu, Idumlavanu, Ikangamwani na Mapogoro

Timu ya SAM ya Wilaya ya Mufindi yatembelea vijiji vya mradi vinne ambayo ni Igombavanu, Mapogoro, Idumlavanu na Ikangamwani,  ili kufanya tathmini ya utekelezaji wa shughuli mbalimbali za usimamizi wa maliasili kuanzia ngazi ya Wilaya, Kata na Vijiji.

Pia Timu hiyo ililenga kupima matokeo ya utekelezaji wa shughuli za mradi ikiwa ni pamoja na kufanya tathmini ya jinsi halmashauri ya wilaya ilivyotekeleza mapendekezo ya Timu hiyo kama yalivyowasilishwa mwaka jana 2016.

Katika ziara hii Timu iliweza kukutana na baadhi ya wajumbe wa Kamati za maliasili za vijiji, Halmashauri za vijiji, Timu ndogo za SAM za vijiji, na Kamati za uchumi na fedha.

Lengo la kukutana na wajumbe hawa ni kuwahoji na kutoa mrejesho ambao utaisaidia Timu ya SAM ya wilaya kulinganisha kilichopo kwenye nyaraka na kinachotetendeka katika vijiji husika.

Taarifa itakayokusanywa na Timu hii itataja mambo ambayo yatahitaji muitikio kutoka kwa halmashauri za vijiji na halmashauri ya wilaya.

Ripoti itataja mafanikio na changamoto ambazo zimegunduliwa na timu ya SAM ya wilaya, ambazo zitawasilishwa mbele ya Mkurugenzi, Mkuu wa wilaya na Watendaji wakuu wa Halmashauri ya wilaya ya Mufindi. 

World Environmental Day

LEAT CELEBRATED THE WORLD ENVIRONMENTAL DAY 

LEAT celebrates the World  Environmental Day by participate in making sanitation in Mfyome village within Iringa district. 

Additional through Mfyome theater group which was established by LEAT, They performed and encouraged community members to do cleanliness In their surroundings, to avoid outbreak and spread of infectious diseases like cholera

LEAT YAHAMASISHA UPITISHWAJI WA SHERIA NDOGO

SHERIA NDOGO

               

BARAZA LA MADIWANI LA WILAYA YA IRINGA LAIDHINISHA SHERIA NDOGO ZA USIMAMIZI WA MALIASILI  ZA KIJIJI CHA MBWELELI, KINYALI NA KINYIKA

Hatimae wananchi wa vijiji  vya Kinyika, Kinyali na
Mbweleli vilivyopo wilayani Iringa wamepitisha sheria ndogo zenye lengo la
kuhifadhi wanyama wa maeneo yao na utunzaji wa rasilimali za misitu zinazowazunguka.

Hatua hiyo inatokana na malalamiko ya muda mrefu ya
uharibifu wa mazingira na uuaji hovyo wa wanyama wanaokatisha kwenye vijiji
hivyo wakitokea Hifadhi ya Taifa ya Ruaha kuelekea Mikumi.

Sheria ndogo zilizizopitishwa na wananchi kwa msaada
wa Timu ya Wanasheria Watetezi wa Mazingira kwa Vitendo –LEAT inayofadhiliwa na USAID, na kuidhinishwa na
baraza la Madiwani wa Halmashauri ya wilaya ya Iringa huenda zikawa mwarobaini wa malalamiko ya madiwani
yanayosababishwa na kukithiri kwa uharibifu wa mazingira.

Mwanasheria wa halmashauri ya wilaya ya Iringa Bi. Kissa Mbila amesema, "Sasa
kijiji kitakuwa na uwezo wa kusimamia sheria hizo kwa kuwaadhibu wanaoikiuka
sheria ndogo badala ya kutegemea Halmashauri na hivyo kuongeza ulinzi wa
raslimali zake".

Vijiji hivyo vinapakana na Hifadhi ya Taifa ya Ruaha na ni
miongoni mwa maeneo ambapo wanyama huvuka kwenda maeneo mengine.

LEAT inapongeza vijiji hivyo kutambua umuhimu wa uhifadhi wa maliasili zinazowazungukua na kufikia lengo la kuweza kupitisha sheria ndogo hizo. Pia inatambua mchango wa Baraza la madiwani wa Halmashauri ya wilaya ya Iringa kwa kuidhinisha sheria ndogo hizo lakini pia mwandishi kutoka Televisheni ya Taifa TBC1 Bi Irene Mwakalinga kwa kuripoti taarifa hii.

MUFINDI VILLAGERS PASS BYLAWS TO CONTROL NATURAL FOREST DESTRUCTION

The Isimikinyi's  Village Executive Officer Mr. Gustav Fabian, introducing the agenda of  the meeting and welcoming the Village Chairman Mr. Fred Msewa (With black shirt) for opening remarks and initiating the meeting.

Mr. Thomas, The Program Officer of the Mufindi Youth for Development (MUVIMA), introducing himself to the members of Isimikinyi village assembly meeting.

LEAT Program Officer Mr. Jamal Juma facilitating Isimikinyi villagers' to promulgate  comprehensive village bylaw according to The Local Government  (District  Authority) Act of 1982 that bring mandate to Village Council and Village assembly meeting to promulgate village bylaws.

LEAT Communication Officer Ms. Edina Tibaijuka, introducing herself and the accompanied journalists  to the  members of Isimikinyi village assembly meeting

Some of the members of the Isimikinyi Village Assembly Meeting who were carefully listening to the draft of their village bylaws that read by Isimikinyi's Village Executive Officer Mr. Gustav Fabian

One of the village natural forest at Isimikinyi village.

At last Isimikinyi Village residents of Malangali Ward, Mufindi district in Iringa region have adopted the by-laws for management of natural resources (forest and wildlife) to reduce the speed of destruction of natural forest resources.

The by-laws is focused to preserve and promote the three natural forests of Chanunu, Mlimba and Nzali of Isimikinyi village council and maintained by the village.

The move was reached yesterday at the village assembly meeting where the Isimikinyi Village Executive Officer (VEO), Gustav Fabian Mdemu in conjunction with the village chairman Fred Msewa they read the draft proposals to the citizens before adopting them.

The village forests of Chanunu, Mlimba and Nzali has a total of 208 hectares, where the rules and regulations adopted by the residents will be used in the management of forest resources, hence environmental preservation.

The process of updating those by-laws made by lobbyists, Lawyers on  Environmental Action Team (LEAT) in collaboration with the District Attorney of Mufindi, Mufindi organization for Youth Development (MUVIMA) with the locals.

Through the Village Assembly Meeting, the citizens, LEAT and the district attorney had reviewed the by-laws which was used by village before and found that they contained some shortcomings.

Team of advocates LEAT, is implementing a project of Citizen Engagement in Government Oversight (CEGO-NRM) in 32 villages of the of Iringa and Mufindi districts in Iringa region, funded by the American people through the USAID.

The aim of the project is to build the capacity of communities living near forests and wildlife resources, so they can implement and benefit from it.

This project is implemented in partnership the selected civil society organizations like MUVIMA, to provide training on land laws and rights, policies, guidelines, regulations and monitoring social responsibility to village committees for natural resources and the environment, the economy, water and land use.

In addition, LEAT in partnership with the Mufindi Youth for Development (MUVIMA) provided training on laws, policies, guidelines, regulations and social accountability monitoring (SAM) to the project villages.

They said that through training they were enabled to realize their rights and responsibilities as citizens to collaborate with village government in managing the natural resources, hence promoting the sustainability the village natural resources.

About by-laws adopted, the citizens said they will help to reduce the damages to the environment as well as protecting water sources.

Isimikinyi Village of Malangali Ward in Mufindi District, Iringa has a total of four neighborhoods (vitongoji) with a total number of 763 people including 361 males and 402 females.

However LEAT is planed to facilitate 20 villages to promulgate comprehensive village bylaws in ensuring conservation of Natural resources within Mufindi and Iringa rural districts. 

Among the villages which approved village bylaws in Mufindi and Iringa districts through Village assembly meeting are: Lugodalutali, Mapogoro, Igombavanu, Uhambila, Isimikinyi and Itengule villages in Mufindi district and Kiwere village in Iringa district. While the remained 13 villages that some of them are Idumilavanu, Ihefu, Mwitikilwa and Tambalang’ombe (In Mufindi district ) and Malizanga, Idodi, Mfyome, Mtera, Tungamalenga, Kitisi villages (in Iringa district) are in the process of promulgating their village bylaws through Village Council meetings.

KUBADILISHANA UZOEFU- TIMU YA LEAT YAFANYA ZIARA SERENGETI

  

Timu ya LEAT wakiwa katika ofisi ya SEDEREC katika ziara ya mafunzo

Kutoka kushoto ni Afisa Ughani wilaya ya Iringa Bi. Hana Lupembe, Afisa Mradi wilaya ya Iringa Bw. Musa Mnasizu, Afisa Mradi wilaya ya Mufindi Bw. Jamal Juma, Afisa Ughani wa wilaya ya Mufindi Bw. Franklin Masika wakiwa na mwenyeji wao katika ofisi ya SEDEREC kwa lengo kujifunza katika ziara yao Serengeti

Timu ya LEAT wakiwa katika ziara ya mafunzo ofisi za Jumuiya ya Hifadhi ya wanyama pori IKONA (Ikona WMA)

Timu ya LEAT wakiwa katika mazungumzo na baadhi ya viongozi wa Jumuiya ya Hifadhi ya Wanyapori Ikona (Ikona WMA)

  Timu ya Wanasheria Watetezi wa Mazingira kwa Vitendo (LEAT) walishiriki ziara ili kujifunza zaidi namna ambavyo Kituo cha Tafiti za Maendeleo na Uhifadhi Mazingira cha Serengeti (SEDEREC) kinavyotekeleza dhana ya uawajibikaji kupitia mfumo wa Ufuatiliaji Uwajibikaji Jamii. Warsha hiyo ilifanyika tarehe 15 hadi 22 Januari 2016, katika wilaya ya Serengeti, mkoani Mara.

  Ziara hiyo ilitokana na ushauri uliotolewa na aliyekuwa Afisa Mwakilishi wa Makubaliano wa Shirika la Kimataifa la Maendeleo la Marekani (USAID), Mikala Laurdisen, kuwa timu ya watekelezaji wa mardi wa Ushiriki wa Wananchi katika Usimamizi wa Maliasili iende kujifunza zaidi namna timu za Ufuatiliaji Uwajibikaji Jamii, zinavyoweza kuwa na jukumu fanisi katika kuimarisha timu ndogo za Ufuatiliaji Uwajibikaji Jamii za wananchi, katika kudai uwazi na uwajibikaji kutoka kwa viongozi wao wanapokuwa wanatekeleza majukuma yao juu ya mapato yanayotokana na maliasili. Ziara ya mafunzo ilihudhuriwa na Maafisa mradi Jamal Juma na Musa Mnasizu, pamoja na Maafisa Ugani Hanna Lupembe na Franklin Masika.

  Afisa Mradi, Jamal Juma alisema kuwa timu ya LEAT ilikwenda Serengeti kujifunza katika shirika la SEREDEC. Aliongezea kuwa licha ya kuwa shirika la SEREDEC linatekeleza Mfumo wa Ufuatiliaji wa Matumizi ya Umma badala ya mfumo wa Ufuatiliaji Uwajibikaji Jamii, ambao ndio ilikuwa lengo la ziara ya mafunzo, timu ya LEAT ilijifunza baadhi ya masuala ambayo itayafanyia kazi.

  Timu ya LEAT ilijifunza kuwa matumizi ya miundo iliyopo ya serikali ya kijiji katika usimamizi wa rasilimali za umma ni endelevu zaidi na una gharama nafuu ikilinganishwa na uanzishwaji wa chombo kipya katika ngazi ya kijiji ambacho wakati mwingine kinaweza kikakosa msaada kutoka serikali ya kijiji wakati  wa utekelezaji wa shughuli zake.

 Timu pia ilijifunza kwamba uundaji wa kamati za Ufuatiliaji Uwajibikaji Jamii katika ngazi ya kijiji ufanyike kupitia makutano mkuu wa kijiji ambapo wanakijiji wote wanapaswa kushiriki kuchagua watu ambao wataunda kamati hiyo.


  Kwa upande wake Afisa Ugani, Frankly Masika,     alisema kuwa walipata changamoto ya kufikia lengo la ziara yao kwakuwa SEDEREC hawafahamu na wala hawatekelezi mfumo wa Ufuatiliaji Uwajibikaji Jamii, na kwakuwa SEDEREC imeelekeza nguvu zake katika kutetea migororo kati ya binadamu na wanyamapori na ufuatiliaji wa matumizi ya umma.


   Franklyn alifafanua kuwa licha ya kuwa kuna baadhi ya mambo walijifunza na kuwa yatasaidia katika utekelezaji wa mradi, alisema lengo kuu la kujifunza namna bora za utekelezaji wa shughuli za timu ndogo za Ufuatiliaji Uwajibikaji Jamii, halikufanikiwa kwa kiasi kikubwa.

  Alisema kuwa, Timu ya LEAT na SEDEREC waliweza kubadilishana uzoefu na kuangalia ni mambo gani kila upande ynaweza kuboresha katika utekelezaji wa miriadi yao. Ambapo alisema, Timu ya LEAT iliishauri SEDEREC kuwa ili kamati za Ufuatiliaji Matumizi ya Umma ziweze kufanya kazi kwa ufanisi zinapaswa ziundwe na wanakijiji pekee ambao ndio watakao tathmini utendaji wa Maafisa wa serikali na sio kuundwa pamoja na Maofisa wa serikali. Hiyo itaongeza ufanisi katika ufuatiliaji kwakuwa ni vigumu sana mtu kujifanyia tathmini ya utendaji wake.