Utafiti wa Potwe Wataka Usimamizi Bora wa Utalii Kisiwani Mafia

Utafiti wa potwe unaoendelea kisiwani Mafia kwa ufadhili wa WWF Tanzania unapendekeza kuboreshwa kwa usimamizi wa utalii kwa kuandaa mpango wa usimamizi na maendeleo ya utalii.  



Potwe akiwa amezungukwa na samaki - Picha na Mtafiti wa Potwe
Clare Prebble

Utafiti wa awali kuanzia mwaka 2007 hadi 2009 uliofanywa na WWF kwa kushirikiana na Taasisi ya Potwe ya Marekani ulikuwa na lengo la kujua idadi ya potwe katika kisiwa cha Mafia. Utafiti uligundua kuwa kati ya potwe 40 hadi 50 walikuwa wakiishi Mafia na kila mmoja alikuwa na madoa maalum mwilini mwake ambayo yaliweza kumbainisha. Utafiti pia ulibaini kuwa karibu potwe wote walioishi kisiwani humo walikuwa wenye umri mdogo na walikuwa wa jinsi ya kiume. Pia wengi walionekana kila mwaka kati ya mwezi Aprili na  Oktoba.

Utafiti wa karibuni wenye jina la “Sababu za Kimazingira Zinazoathiri Kuwepo kwa Potwe na Mwenendo Wake Kisiwani Mafia, Tanzania”,  ambao ulipanua wigo wa utafiti wa awali, miongoni mwa mambo mengine, ulitaka kujua hali ya kimazingira ya bahari katika ukanda, mfumo wa idadi ya potwe, mwenendo wake, tabia za ulaji, mwingiliano na wavuvi na tishio la kibinadamu dhidi ya potwe katika kisiwa cha Mafia.

Ikilinaganishwa na utafiti wa awali, matokeo ya utafiti wa wakati huu uliofanywa na shirika la “Marine Mega Fauna Foundation”, Chuo cha Mfalme Abdullah cha Sayansi na Teknolojia na Taasisi ya Utafiti wa Uvuvi Tanzania kati ya mwezi Oktoba 2012 na Machi 2013 umegundua kuwepo kwa  potwe wa aina mbalimbali 87.

“Utafiti pia umegundua kuwa potwe wanapatikana kisiwani Mafia hata kama wasipoonekana katika maji ya juu kwani muda wa kuishi kisiwani ni siku 75 ikilinganishwa na siku 40 kwa mwaka katika mahali pengine kwenye Bahari ya Hidi na wanarejea Mafia kila mwaka,” anasema Jason Rubens, Mshauri Mtaalam na mratibu wa zamani wa Programu ya Bahari ya WWF. “Kwa hiyo utafiti umeshaonyesha kuwa kisiwa cha Mafia ni cha kipekee kwa maisha ya potwe”.

Utafiti mwingine unaoendelea kwa sasa ni kujua ni kwa nini potwe wanapenda kuja kuishi Mafia. “Mafia inajulikana kutokana na kuwa na chakula kingi kwa ajili ya potwe, lakini utafiti unahitaji kubainisha kama kweli wanakuja kwa ajili ya chakula, hali ya chakula maeneo mengine ya Bahari ya Hindi ikoje,” Rubens anasema.

Utafiti pia utasaidia kubainisha kama kuna hali ya kipekee ya mazingira ya kuzaliana potwe katika eneo la Rufiji, Mafia na Kilwa (RUMAKI). Inajulikana kuwa hili ni eneo linalopata virutubisho vingi kutoka Mto Rufiji. Ugunduzi huu unaweza kuhusishwa na suala zima la umuhimu wa kuundwa kwa Vikundi vya Usimamizi Shirikishi wa Mazingira ya Bahari na Pwani (BMUs) ili kuhifadhi rasilimali za majini na samaki na mazingira yote ya ukanda wa RUMAKI, kwa mujibu wa Rubens.

Pia utafiti unaweza kuelezea ni kwa nini uvuvi wa samaki aina ya dagaa unaendelea kushamiri katika kisiwa cha Mafia. Pengine ni kutokana na urahisi wa upatikanaji wa chakula katika ukanda huo ambacho pia kinaliwa na potwe.

Katika suala la utalii, kuna wito umetolewa na utafiti uliopita juu ya umuhimu wa kuwepo kwa Mpango wa Kusimamia Utalii wa Potwe Mafia. “Utalii usiosimamiwa vizuri unaweza kufukuza potwe kutoka kisiwa cha Mafia kutokana na uwezekano wa watalii kubughudhi tabia za potwe hasa katika ulaji wao,” Rubens anasema. “Kama utalii usiposimamiwa vizuri unaweza kuwa na athari mbaya”, anasisitiza akitoa mfano wa yaliyojitokeza katika utalii wa pomboo huko Zanzibar ambapo watalii walikuwa wakiongezeka bila kuwepo kwa mpango maalum wa kusimamia utalii huo.

Anasema hali ya sasa inaonyesha kuwa hadi boti 7 zinaweza kuingia kupeleka watalii kuogelea na potwe na baadhi ya watalii wameshaanza kulalamikia hali hiyo. Anasema kwa kuwa na mpango wa usimamizi, itawezesha kuzuia idadi ya boti zinazoingia kupeleka watalii kuogelea na potwe kwa sababu zitaingia baharini kwa kufuata utaratibu uliokubalika.

Maoni yake yanaungwa mkono na utafiti. Kwa mujibu wa utafiti wa potwe, viumbe hao katika kisiwa cha Mafia wanakabiliwa na athari za kimazingira ambazo zinaweza kuathiri maisha yao au tabia zao. “Idadi kubwa ya potwe (asilimia 75%) wana makovu na pamoja na kwamba makovu mengi ni madogo madogo, hii inaonyesha wazi kuwa suala la mgongano na boti ni la kawaida,” inasema ripoti hiyo iliyotolewa hivi karibuni.

Inaongeza kuwa makovu yamewapata potwe katika kisiwa cha Mafia zaidi ikilinganishwa na mahali pengine katika Bahari ya Hindi mfano Shelisheli (67%), Msumbiji (37%) na Australia (27%).

Ripoti inasema kuwa michirizi inayoonekana mgongoni inawezekana ilitokana na kugongana na boti. Makovu mengi pia yanaonekana kusababishwa na boti ndogo ndogo kama vile boti za watalii ambazo zinajishughulisha na kuangalia potwe na pia boti za wavuvi wa dagaa.
 

“Kuna haja kwa serikali ya wilaya kutengeneza mpango wa usimamizi wa utalii sasa na kukubaliana na wenye boti jinsi ya kusimamia utalii wa potwe,” anahitimisha Rubens.

BMU Zasaidia Huduma za Jamii Mafia

Vikundi vya Usimamizi Shirikishi wa Raslimali za Uvuvi (BMUs) vimeanzishwa na serikali kwa lengo kuu la kuishirikisha jamii ya wavuvi katika suala zima la kusimamia raslimali za uvuvi, ili ziweze kutumika kwa busara na kuleta matumizi endelevu ya raslimali hizo. Hii inafanywa na jamii kwa kushirikiana na wadau wengine kama vile serikali kuu, serikali za mitaa, mashirika yasiyo ya kiserikali, sekta binafsi na wadau wa maendeleo.

Kwa mujibu wa Mwongzo wa Uanzishwaji wa Vikundi vya  Usimamizi Shirikishi wa  Raslimali za Uvuvi wa Kitaifa, BMUs zinazotumia eneo fulani katika uvuvi zinaweza kuungana na kuanzisha  Maeneo ya Usimamizi wa  Pamoja (CFMA) katika  Ukanda wa Bahari ya Hindi.

“Sababu kuu ya kuanzishwa  maeneo ya usimamizi wa pamoja wa uvuvi ni kutambua haki za vijiji jirani, za kutumia raslimali zilizopo ndani ya eneo na hivyo kusimamia kwa pamoja raslimali hizo”, kwa mujibu wa Mwongozo huo.

Wana BMU wa B weni, Mafia wakipanga Mpango Mkakati wa BMU yao

Usimamizi shirikishi unatambuliwa pia na sheria ya uvuvi ya Jamhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania Namba 22 ya mwaka 2003 na kanuni za uvuvi za mwaka 2009  ambapo mamlaka yanatolewa kwa jamii ya wavuvi kuanzisha Vikundi vya Usimamizi Shirikishi wa Raslimali za Uvuvi (BMUs), unaolenga kuzipa uwezo jamii za wavuvi majukumu ya usimamizi wa raslimali za uvuvi kwa kushirikiana na serikali na wadau wengine, kukuza uboresheaji wa makazi ya viumbe yaliyoharibiwa pamoja na kuongeza wingi wa viumbe wa bahari waliohatarini kutoweka kwa kupunguza nguvu ya uvuvi hasa uvuvi haramu usiozingatia sheria na shughuli haribifu za mazingira.

Pia kusaidia na kukuza ufuatiliaji, tathmini na utafiti wa raslimali za uvuvi ili kuwezesha kutoa msingi wa maamuzi sahihi ya usimamizi na kukuza mwamko kuhusu masuala ya usimamizi endelevu wa raslimali za uvuvi katika maeneo ya jamii.

Akizungumzia usimamizi shirikishi katika warsha ya uzinduzi wa Mradi wa Usimamizi Shirikishi wa Raslimali za Uvuvi unaotekelezwa na WWF Tanzania na kufadhiliwa na Umoja wa Ulaya (EU) na WWF Uingereza (WWF-UK), Naibu Mkurugenzi wa Uvuvi katika Wizara ya Mifugo na Maendeleo ya Uvuvi Tanzania, Fatma Sobo alisema, “Nia na lengo la wadau wote katika usimamizi shirikishi ni kuwa na uvuvi endelevu, uvuvi ambao utaturuhusu tuvue sisi, vizazi vyetu na vizazi vijavyo”. 

Akizungumza kwa niaba ya Mkurugenzi wa Uvuvi wa wizara hiyo katika hotuba ya kufunga warsha iliyofanyika mjini Dar es Salaam Mei 17, 2013, Bi. Sobo aliongeza “Kama wenzetu waliopita waliweza kutunza raslimali zetu, nasi tunapaswa kuzitunza pia”.

Alisema wizara yake itashirikiana na wadau wote muhimu katika kutekeleza mradi huo muhimu unaotekeleza kile kilichopo katika sera ya uvuvi ya mwaka 1997 na sheria ya mwaka 2003.

Kwa upande wake, mwakilishi wa Ujumbe wa Umoja wa Ulaya nchini Tanzania, Maria Iarrera alisema Umoja wa Ulaya unatambua umuhimu wa wananchi kushirikishwa katika kusimamia raslimali zao wenyewe. 

“Ni muhimu wanajamii kuelewa kuwa usimamizi shirikishi ndiyo njia pekee itakayoleta maendeleo endelevu ya raslimali na kwamba wana jamii wanaweza kufaidika na usimamizi huo kwa raslimali kuongezeka,” alisema, na kuongeza kuwa ana matumaini kuwa mradi huo utazidi kufikia watu wengi zaidi katika ukanda wa pwani.

Pamoja na usimamizi wa raslimali za uvuvi, kuanzishwa kwa vikundi vya BMUs katika Kisiwa cha Mafia kumeonyesha matunda zaidi ya usimamizi wa raslimali hizo. Vikundi hivyo vimeanza sasa kuchangia katika shughuli za maendeleo ya jamii kama vile ujenzi wa zahanati, usafi wa mazingira na ujenzi wa madarasa ya shule.

“BMU yetu imeshiriki kuchangia fedha taslimu kwa ajili ya kusafisha mto. Lengo la kusafisha mto huo ni kuimarisha usafi katika eneo la mwalo,” anasema mwenyekiti wa BMU ya Kilindoni, Kassim A. Ahmadi.

Kwa mujibu wa Ahmadi, mbali na BMU kutoa huduma ya kusafisha mto, pia imechangia katika gharama za ujenzi wa zahanati, kutoa mafunzo ya usimamizi shirikishi kwa viongozi wapya wa BMU na pia kutenga fedha kwa ajili ya kusaidia kufanya doria katika eneo lililopo chini ya usimamizi wao. Jumla ya Shs. 700,000 zimetumika katika huduma hizi.

“Mchango wetu kwa jamii unatambulika na serikali ya kijiji,” anasema mwenyekiti huyo. “Hata sasa kuna barua hii ambapo serikali ya kijiji imetutaka BMU kuchangia Shs. 500,000 katika mpango wa kutoa chakula kwa shule zetu za msingi,” anasema huku akionyesha barua ya maombi ya mchango kutoka serikali ya kijiji chake.

BMUs nyingine zinazokiri kuchangia katika shughuli za maendeleo ya jamii ni pamoja na Chunguruma na Ndagoni. Wakati Chunguruma wanakiri kuchangia katika ujenzi wa nyumba ya mkunga katika zahanati ya kijiji, Ndagoni wanakiri kuwahi kutoa mchango kwa ajili ya ujenzi wa madarasa ya sekondari.

BMUs zote hizo hapo juu zilianzishwa na shirika la WWF Tanzania kwa kushirikiana na Halmashauri za Wilaya, Idara ya Uvuvi na Mradi wa MACEMP chini ya Programu yake ya  Rufiji, Mafia na Kilwa (RUMAKI) iliyoanza mwaka 2005 hadi 2012. Chini ya programu hiyo, BMUs 25 zilianzishwa katika wilaya hizo tatu.

Mradi wa Usimamizi Shirikishi wa Raslimali za Uvuvi  una lengo la kuendelea kuziimarisha BMUs zilizopo na kuanzisha BMUs nyingine 67 kuanzia mwaka 2013 hadi mradi utakapohitimishwa mwaka 2017. BMUs hizi zitaanzishwa katika wilaya tano za Rufiji, Mafia, Kilwa, Mtwara Vijijini na Manispaa ya Temeke.

Pia mradi utaendelea kufuatilia na kuzijengea uwezo BMUs zilizoundwa wakati wa RUMAKI na zitakazoundwa kwa sasa ili kuwa na ufanisi zaidi katika utendaji wake wa kazi.

“Lengo kubwa la BMUs ni kusimamia raslimali za uvuvi na pwani,” anasema Paul Kugopya, Afisa wa Usimamizi Shirikishi wa Mradi huo katika wilaya ya Mafia. “Lakini BMUs zitafikia  malengo ya kusimamia raslimali za uvuvi pale tu zitakapoonyesha uwezo wa kushiriki kikamilifu katika usimamizi wa raslimali kwa kuzuia uvuvi haramu, hivyo kuongeza kipato cha jamii kupitia uvuvi na kutatua tatizo sugu la umaskini unaoikabili jamii ya  Watanzaia na kuwa na uwezo wa kutosha wa kusaidia huduma na shughuli za kijamii katika vijiji vyao kwa kushirikiana na Halmashauri za vijiji”.

It is expectation met and surpassed

Today is Wednesday 19 March 2014, end of training on internet investigative reporting. The day’s training started with learning by doing on how to create links. “Making links to the text is one of special characteristics of internet journalism. Internet is a net that everything is interconnected, no media can do this,” said trainer Peik Johansson.

The day was busy with full concentration of participants. Everyone was busy to first learn on how to make links and then do practical on making links to their own blogs. After this exercise, participants were able to select from two assignments on gas in Mtwara and press freedom in Tanzania. This assignment made participants even busy.

After posting on their blogs, participants had an opportunity to learn on how to make links within their texts. And the day was concluded by final assignment on writing whether the training has met their expectations.

For me my expectation of learning more advanced search tools was surpassed. Apart from technical aspect, I had also learned on how to write good investigative piece of story, aided by internet. I am sure this is another training that has prepared another group of modern journalists in Arusha.

 End  

Tanzania - potential African natural gas giant

United Republic of Tanzania is one of the poorest countries on the globe. According to UNDP Human Development Index 2012, Tanzania is one of the countries in the world with low human development, ranked number 155 out of 190 countries indexed.

Despite this state of affairs, the East African country has attracted attention from all parts of the world due to its recent discovery of natural gas, said to be one of the largest reserves in Africa. According to the Ministry of Energy, there is the likelihood of gas reserve in Tanzania to increase to 200 trillion cubic feet in just two years to come.


Mtwara gas pipes


The recent gas discovery in Mtwara region is one of indicators of the energy development trend in Tanzania. According to Tanzania Reports website, already 16 international energy companies are in explorations of gas and oil in Tanzania. Few in the list include British BG Group, Norway’s Statoil, Brazil’s Petrobras, Royal Dutch Shell and Exxon Mobil Corp from America.  

Other companies mentioned by Tanzania Petroleum Development Corporation (TPDC) are Pan African Energy, Songas Limited, Maurel & Prom, Ndovu/Aminex, Petrodel, Afren Tanzania, Dominion, Ophir East African Ventures Limited, Beach Petroleum, Dodsal, Heritage Rukwa (TZ) Ltd, Swala Energy, Motherland Homes and Open Acreage.

On June 2013, Statoil and Axxon Mobil Corp were reported to have discovered natural gas after an offshore exploration in Mtwara. The discovery was said to add the natural gas availability to a volume of about 3 trillion cubic feet. One month later, the London based Ophir plc Energy reported another discovery. According to press statement of Ophir Energy published by Tanzania Petroleum Development Corporation, “Estimates for the mean recoverable resource from the discovery are in-line with pre-drill expectations of 0.6 tcf”.

The discovery has come with rapid construction of infrastructures. The ongoing giant projects include the construction of 600mw power plant in Dar es Salaam and 650km gas pipeline from Msimbati village in Mtwara to Dar es Salaam.

The power plant and pipeline construction project profiles form one of the most important documents sold by the Ireland based Research and Markets, the world largest market research store which documents important project profiles and studies around the globe for international industrialists, investors and researchers.

Until February 8, 2014, the pipeline project had already received 47,362 gas pipes from China. This is equivalent to 89 per cent of pipes needed to complete the construction work. The TPDC Managing Director was quoted by media on February saying the construction work is expected to be completed by December this year.

The construction of the pipeline enjoyed loan amount 1.9 trillion Tanzanian Shillings from Exim Bank of China, goes hand on hand with construction of gas processing plants in Madimba Mtwara and Songosongo Island. The Dangote Cement factory is anticipated to provide 500 direct employments and 800 indirect employments in Mtwara and Lindi.

Once completed, the power generating plant is expected to produce 600mw, saving about 1 trillion Tanzanian Shillings used to import oil for electricity power generation plants. The development will reduce power tariff for the citizens and also lure more investors to come and invest in the country where energy availability is more guarantied. This will bring about rapid economic development which is likely to move the country from low human development rating to medium level.   

But all these development do not come without challenges. The business community in Tanzania has repeatedly complained that local investors are left out in gas and oil exploration deals. The Tanzania Private Sector Foundation chairman, Reginald Mengi has insisted that Tanzanians have capacity to invest on gas and oil industry. On its side, government has emphasized that the sector requires investors with capacity to invest multi-billion of dollars in the preliminary stage before even thinking of getting profit.

At the grass root level, several demonstrations have been carried out by Mtwara residents, protesting the construction of pipeline to Dar es Salaam opined that all gas will be transported to the country’s largest city and leave the Mtwara people sailing in poverty. The demonstration heightened in May 21, 2013 when chaos marred Mtwara town soon after the Minister for Energy and Minerals Sospeter Muhongo told the Parliament in Dodoma that government will continue with the plans of construction of pipeline from Mtwara to Dar es Salaam.

The incident left several injuries and burnt houses especially those belong to the ruling party (CCM) cadres.  Riot police were prompted to use tear gases to disperse the demonstrators. The intensity of the problem prompted also government to order some military men from Tanzania Peoples Defense Force to intervene.  

Now that the constructions are progressing well and some of them at the final stage of completion, and the Mtwara community seem to cool down, there is a possibility for Tanzania to be one of natural gas resource giants in Africa. God bless Tanzania, God bless Africa.

End

Interesting search options

It is the morning of the second day of training. Tuesday, March 18^th, 2014. All participants were busy in front of their desk top computers finalizing their assignments they were given to write about the first day of training. The trainer provided 15 minutes for them to finalize assignments and post into their training blogs.

After 15 minutes, it was already 9.30 am. The trainer started the programme, by telling the participants that “blog is there for you to publish and give feedback”. He told them that the basic knowledge they got about blogging is enough because can move on by doing other blogging options themselves.

He introduced the day that will mostly dwell on journalistic research assignments. He introduced few research questions in order to go with his words that the training was mostly practical – learning by doing. The first research question was who was the president of Sweden? Who is president of El Salvador? Who is president of Ukraine? Who is the UEFA champion’s league top scorer? How high is Mount Everest? Which is the highest peak in Europe?

Other questions include searching current information about Tanzania inflation rate, Precision Air profits and what Kikwete said about elephants on 11 March, 2014. All searches used advanced search options. But the most important search option which was also new to me was the use of search tools and scholar search which provides papers and articles produced by academics and published online.

We spent afternoon session to do journalistic assignments. From 3 options we were given to choose, I opted for Uganda President Museveni’s recent remarks that he would rather work with Russians than Americans.

I did this article, assisted by interesting internet search options. I used different google search options such as bookmarks, search tools and scholar advance search. My first search was to visit US Department of State website, to search what has prompted Museveni to give such negative remarks against Uganda’s long time friend. Through the website I came up with some materials which assisted me to choose the story angle. I was always using my notebook to note most important points I got from this site.

From the site, I discovered that USA officials and Human Rights Organizations have commented a lot against Museveni’s decision to sign into law the anti-homosexuality Bill. I also discovered in the website that Russians have also enacted the law against freedom of expression propaganda law on issues related to the so called “non-traditional sexual relations”. So I discovered that Museveni’s utterance might have been come because Russian is also anti-gay state.

Other sources I used in the story was the scholarly paper on anti-gay Bill called A Human Rights Impact Assessment of Uganda Anti-Sexuality Bill, 2009. I got this paper after I used scholar advanced search option. But when the trainer explained about this assignment, I discovered myself having very different story angle compared to his. He emphasized that we were supposed to trace the relationship between Russia and Uganda and the background information about Uganda-American relationship.

The training of the day was interesting. Nothing I disliked. Everything was of values.

Uganda’s anti-gay law and souring relations with America

On February 13, 2014, Ugandan President Yoweri Museni signed the controversial anti-gay legislation into law. This happened despite outcry from the Western world that the law is against fundamental human rights.

“Government that deny rights to sections of their population, be it women, LGBT, persons with disabilities or others are not only failing to use full potential of their citizens, but will also hamper their own prosperity and stability,” remarked Uzra Zeya, Acting Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labour at the Human Rights Campaign Convention and Board Meeting, mentioning Uganda as one of the countries that has recently passed very harsh law against homosexuality in the world.

The scholarly paper by Sylvia Tamale titled A Human Rights Impact Assessment of Uganda Anti-Sexuality Bill, 2009 says that re-criminalization of homosexuality in Uganda is likely to distract the Uganda communities from the real life issues that harm them.

According to Amnesty International, Uganda is now starting to institutionalize the violations of civil rights through the formation of draconian laws.

The USA President Barack Obama has repeatedly criticized the new law, putting it clear that the action of inking the legislation would sour the diplomatic relationship with Uganda, the long time friend of Western countries especially the USA.

But Museveni, who came into power during the military coup ousted President Milton Obote in 1986 seem to absorb any shock coming from the West, when he recently remarked that he would rather work with Russians, the power which has never raised any voice to criticize his decision.

On his remarks of February 21, 2014, when presenting a new flight simulator at the Air Force Headquarters in Entebbe, Museveni was quoted by BuzzFeed World website saying “The Russians work with us, they don’t mix up their politics with our politics, they just do what we agree on.”

Last June, Russia enacted the so called “anti-gay propaganda law’ that also criminalizes people who freely express themselves on issues related to homosexuality.

-End-