LEAT Lawyer, Hadija Mrisho giving a training to the village residents of Ludilo in Madabulo Ward, Mufindi district, Iringa region before the formulating the village by-laws about preservation and conservation of the natural resources of the village recently. (Photo by Friday Simbaya)
By Friday Simbaya, Iringa
The Environmental Action Team (LEAT) in achieving the objectives of the Citizens Engaging in Government Oversight in Natural Resources MANAGEMENT (CEGO - NRM) project implemented in Iringa; has begun the process of empowering village governments prepare by-laws that will guide the management of natural resources and the environment.
These by laws will help reduce damage to forests and wildlife resources that are in danger of extinction due to illegal logging.
Before starting the implementation of the project in Iringa and Mufindi districts, Iringa region; LEAT conducted a study on the level of participation of citizens in the management of natural resources, among other things, LEAT the study found that some villages did not have by laws that could be used to manage natural resources and the environment.
From that LEAT has begun the process of empowering the village government to prepare the by-laws.
The Villages that will benefit in this process of empowerment in the first phase is Mbweleli, Kinyika and Kinyali villages in Iringa district. The Villages were never had by laws that could be used to manage natural resources despite having natural forest villages.
LEAT in collaboration with village governments and citizens formulated and shaped the by-laws of natural resource management.
Citizens and leaders of village government made recommendations for the composition of these laws, and unanimously agreed that LEAT publish the rules which LEAT organized to submit them from July 2016 to the village assembly, so many people will have an opportunity to debate them and approve during their village assemblies respectively.
In Mufindi district, the villages that will be reached in the first phase is Kibada, Ludilo and Ikangamwani. These villages have bylaws that guide them in the management of natural resources, but they are bylaws that outdated with a lot shortcoming with it.
LEAT, village governments and the people they passed those laws and realized limitations. Citizens and government officials involved in the process made recommendations for improvements to the by-laws.
Such rules and regulations shall be submitted in village assemblies from July 2016 to most citizens have an opportunity to discuss, to know and approve.
The objectives of the project 'Citizen Participation in Natural Resource Management, is to create a culture of public participation in the management of natural resources, capacity building of local communities held government institutions accountability and responsibilities for conservation and management of natural resources.
The project also aims to promote the effective implementation and management of key policies and legislation that are involved with the management of natural resources, climate change and climate.
Since the available resources are rural areas, LEAT deemed advisable that the villages should be with the by-laws that will guide them in actively managing the existing natural resources in their territories.
LEAT has already provided training to management of natural resources in the country, the natural resources committee, environment, land, community development and finance. Village government officials, councilors and officials and land resources, and they have undergone the training. All these groups have learned policies and laws that apply in the management of natural resources.
They have also studied the roles of institutions and government departments involved in the management of natural resources. More such groups trained Social Accountability Monitoring (SAM) system, in order to efficiency and good governance in providing social services.
The Citizens Engaging in Government Oversight in Natural Resources MANAGEMENT (CEGO - NRM) project is implemented by LEAT in 32 villages of Iringa and Mufindi districts, Iringa region. The project was funded by the American people through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
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