Mr. Ezekiel Maige Takes Over
Tanzania gets a new tourism minister
TANZANIA, Dar es Salaam (eTN) - Tanzania, an upcoming African tourist destination, has a new tourism minister, Mr. Ezekiel Maige, who is taking over from the former counterpart in the same portfolio, Mrs. Shamsa Mwangunga.
Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete appointed Mr. Maige to hold the full tourism ministerial portfolio in his newly-formed cabinet, which he announced Wednesday this week in Tanzania’s capital of Dar es Salaam.
Before his new appointment, Mr. Maige was a deputy minister in the same ministry before dissolution of the cabinet in August this year to pave way for general elections and the formation of a new government.
The new tourism minister will oversee challenges in Tanzania’s fast-growing tourist industry at the time that vigorous marketing campaigns to attract more tourists are taking place across the world.
Mr. Maige will be responsible to oversee daily activities affecting his ministry's departments, including wildlife and forest resources. His ministry is also responsible for controlling key tourist sites, including the 15 tourist wildlife parks, Ngorongoro Conservation Area where the famous Ngorongoro Crater is located, and Selous Game Reserve – the biggest and most natural wildlife reserve in Africa.
Tanzania, the largest country in East Africa, is focused on wildlife conservation and sustainable tourism, with approximately 28 percent of the land protected by the government. It boasts 15 national parks and 31 game reserves.
It is the home of the tallest mountain in Africa, the legendary Mt. Kilimanjaro, the Serengeti, the world-acclaimed Ngorongoro Crater, Olduvai Gorge, Ruaha wildlife park - now the second largest National Park in Africa, and the spice islands of Zanzibar.
Comments
Dear Mr. Mukasa.
Thanks for your comment and following up tourism issues from Tanzania through eTN.
My role here in Tanzania is just to write any issue or an interesting event about tourism in Tanzania. To me, I cannot tell our readers things which are not confirmed. I cannot admit that former minister was busy promoting the controversial Serengeti Highway because I don’t have any recorded, concrete evidence to justify this. As I know, she was not sacked, rather, it was a political process which affected other ministers as well.
The current Tourism minister has no power to oppose or support this road because it doesn’t fall under his ministry. This road is NOT a project by the Ministry of Tourism, so, the media cannot make follow-ups through the minister for Tourism. I visited Serengeti ecosystem two months ago but failed to get a good picture of this road because there is a team of experts – Tanzanian and Foreign conservationists who are currently carrying out a serious study about Environmental Impact in case the road cuts through the 50-km portion in northern Serengeti during financial year 2012 / 2013 government budget.
The team will recommend other measures, alternatives and best options to be taken to avoid disruption of the Great Serengeti Wildebeest Migration. The team will advise the President of Tanzania about this – whether to abandon the road or divert it so as to protect Serengeti.
So, I cannot write my news basing on speculations because it will confuse, discourage or agitate visitors to Tanzania, mostly wildlife lovers. I am not in any position more than writing Tourism news! Please, just wait, I will cover ALL facts about this road when it comes the right time!
Please, keep informed, read eTurboNews tourism updates !
Thanks,
Apolinary Tairo
Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
It seems that Mr. Mukasa Fred fails to distinguish between the Serengeti Highway and the roles of the Tourism minister. This road falls under the Ministry of Works – Not ministry of tourism. Mr. Mukasa should note that former minister Mwangunga was not sacked by her constituents, and had never been busy promoting Serengeti Highway whish is just a plan. She was not nominated to contest for Ubungo seat (Dar es Salaam) because of tough and very competitive democratic process. People in Ubungo Constituency know nothing about Serengeti Road which is almost 1,200 kilometers away! It has nothing to do with them!
I want to tell Mr. Mukasa that Tanzania tourism is not only the Serengeti – There is Ruaha – bigger than Serengeti, Selous, Mt. Kilimanjaro and Ngorongoro. The minister for Tourism is responsible to oversee the entire Tanzania natural resources – not Serengeti.
This eTurboNews story is excellent. The writer cannot speculate issues about Serengeti road which is just a plan. Mr. Mukasa should visit Tanzania and learn more. Tanzanian media is no longer interested to discuss much about this road because the Cabinet and the Parliament have not decided about this project. The road plan is just in discussion and the government of Tanzania has not yet decided to abandon it or divert it from Serengeti. So why should Mr. Mukasa undermine Tanzania’s tourism just because of this road, basing his facts on media?
I appreciate that the writer of this eTurboNews news is well-informed about Tanzania’s tourism, and will continue telling us all the happenings. I encourage eTurboNews to cover all issues on Tanzania tourism, and update us about the Serengeti road with facts from the government and conservation experts – not personal ideas and speculations as Mr. Mukasa wants.
Elisha Mngoni
Arusha, Tanzania
Dear Sirs,
the writes is unbelievable. He fails to admit that Mwangunga Shamsa was sacked by her constituents in CCM primary elections for bad behaviour and poor performance. She was busy promoting the highway across Serengeti which Mr. Tairo also never talks about. So what is new, will another minister talk sense and oppose the highway now? Conservation first Sir, and time to admit where you stand.
Yours faithfully
Mukasa Fred M.
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