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.

MAFANIKIO YA MRADI WA CEGO KATIKA KIJIJI CHA MALIZANGA KATA YA MLOWA WILAYA YA IRINGA

Katika picha ni Bw. Lulamso Kadaga,Mwenyekiti wa Kijiji cha Malizanga kilichopo Kata ya Mlowa wilayani Iringa, Akiwa ameshika mashine ya kufyatulia tofali zitumiazo saruji na mchanga iliyonunuliwa na halmashauri ya kijiji hicho ili kuachana na matofali ya kuchoma yanayochochea uharibifu wa misitu.

LEAT inatekeleza mradi wa “Ushiriki wa Wananchi katika Usimamizi wa Maliasili” (CEGO-NRM), katika wilaya ya Iringa na Mufindi, kuptia ufadhili wa Shirika la Misaada la Maendeleo la Kimataifa la Marekani (USAID). Mradi huu unatekelezwa katika vijiji 32 (16 wilaya ya Iringa na 16 Wilaya ya Mufindi).

Moja ya kijiji kilichohusishwa katika utekelezaji wa mradi huu ni kijiji cha Malizanga kilichopo kata ya Mlowa, wilaya ya Iringa vijijini. Mafunzo ya Usimamizi wa maliasili na Ufuatiliaji wa Uwajibikaji wa Jamii (UUJ) yalitolewa kuanzia ngazi ya Halmashauri ya kijiji mpaka ngazi ya mwisho kabisa ya wanakijiji wenyewe.

Baadhi ya wajumbe wa halmashauri ya kijiji hiko wamedai kuwa, hali ya misitu ilikuwa mbaya sana kabla LEAT haijaleta mafunzo ya usimamizi wa maliasili katika kijiji chao. Watu wengi walikuwa wakiharibu misitu kwa kigezo cha uhitaji wa kuni, fito, mbao na mkaa kwaajili ya nishati, ujenzi  na kuuza ili kujipatia kipato.

Mwenyekiti wa Kijiji cha Malizanga Ndugu Lulamso Kadaga alisema, “Uhifadhi wa maliasili katika kijiji chake umeongezeka kwa kiasi kikubwa, kwani wengi wamepata elimu ya uhifadhi wa maliasili kutoka LEAT. Pia kupitia mafunzo ya Ufuatiliaji wa Uwajibikaji Jamii -

UUJ, wanakijiji wamekuwa wakifuatilia vitu vingi hususani shughuli za kimaendeleo kama ujenzi wa majengo ya kitaasisi na kuhoji bila woga pale wanapoona mambo yanaenda tofauti. Hapo mwanzo wananchi hawakuwa wakifuatilia shughuli zozote za kimaendeleo hapa kijijini. Ila kwa sasa hali ya ufuatiliaji inafanya viongozi tuwajibike kwani wananchi wanatusaidia na kutukumbusha wajibu wetu. Hivyo inatusaidia pia kuwawajibisha wale ambao hawatekelezi shughuli za miradi kama zinavyopangwa”

“Tumeweka kalenda ya vikao na mikutano ya halmashauri ya kijiji inayofanyika kila mwezi na mkutano mkuu unaofanyika kila baada ya miezi mitatu. Sisi kama viongozi tunahakikisha kalenda hii inafuatwa. Endapo mikutano ya kijiji haitafanyika kwa wakati, jamii imekuwa ikihoji sababu ya kutofanyika mikuatano hiyo. Hivyo jamii pia imeamka kutokana na kutambua umuhimu wa mikutano ya kijiji baada ya kupata elimu ya UUJ kutoka LEAT”. Aliongezea Ndugu Kadaga.

“Binafsi sikusomea uongozi, hivyo vitu vingi sana nimejifunza na kunufaika kutoka LEAT. Mafunzo waliyotupatia kuhusiana na UUJ hasa muongozo juu ya nguzo tano za UUJ yalininufaisha mimi kama kiongozi lakini pia hata wananchi kwa ujumla. Niliguswa sana na mada ya U3( Ufafanuzi, Uhalalisho na Uthibitisho). Nimenufaika juu ya suala la uongozi kwani kabla ya LEAT pengine nilikuwa ninaenda kinyume kwa kutokujua. LEAT imeniwezesha kutambua umuhimu wa utawala bora kwani nilijifunza kuwa mimi kama kiongozi natakiwa niwajibike, nijitume na niwe muwazi kwa wananchi wangu. Kama sitofanya hivyo nitalazimika kutoa U3 kwa wananchi wangu”. Alisema Ndugu Kadaga

  

"Hivyo basi mimi kama kiongozi nimeonyesha njia bora ya usimamizi wa maliasili katika kijiji changu hasa baada ya kupata mafunzo ya utunzaji Mazingira kutoka LEAT.

Niliita Halmashauri ya kijiji na kuwataka tukubaliane kukomesha suala la uharibifu wa misitu unaosababishwa na ukataji wa miti kwaajili ya kuchomea tofali za ujenzi. Tulianza utekelezaji huu kwa kununua mashine ya kufyatulia tofali zinazotumia Saruji naMchanga.

Tulikubaliana majengo yote ya taasisi tutayajenga kwa kutumia tofali za kawaida na si za kuchoma. Hivyo tuliweza kufyatua tofali 3800 zilizotumika kujenga madarasa mawili na ofisi moja. Tumetumia tofali 1800 na zimebaki 2000 zitakazotumika katika shughuli zingine za ujenzi. Hivyo tutakaposimama kuzuia suala la ukataji misitu kwa wanajamii, tutasimama kifua mbele kwani tuna mfano wa kuwaambia na kuwaonyesha.

Hapo nyuma ilikuwa ngumu kuwazuia wasikate miti wakati wewe kiongozi unawaita wafanye shughuli za kimaendeleo zilizokuwa zinahusisha suala la ukataji miti kwaajili ya kuni za kuchomea tofali kwa ajili ya shughuli za ujenzi”. Alimalizia Ndugu Kadaga, Mwenyekiti wa kijiji cha Malizanga"