…ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION SHOULD NOT BE DONOR ORIENTED!

By Friday Simbaya, Njombe

ENVIRONMENTAL stakeholders are advised to protect the environment even after donors have pullout because the breakdown of the shovel is not the end of a blacksmith.

The statement was issued by the community development officers (CDOs) from WWF-Tanzania, Martha Sanga and Evergris Makfura, while closing a workshop of stakeholders of management of water resources and the environment in Makambako, Njombe region.

They said at different times that citizens, stakeholders and environmentalists should continue even after the program expires, because environmental protection is everyone's responsibility.

They said that the issue of the management of water resources and environment is not for donors, but it is everyone's responsibility to ensure environmental preserved.

WWF through its Ruaha Water Program (RWP) in collaboration with the Rufiji Basin Water Board (RBWB), district councils, citizens and environmental stakeholders implemented a five-year project of the management of water resources and environment, which aimed at restoring the state of the Great Ruaha River so the river water can flow throughout the year.

Martha and Makfura said the struggle still in the preservation of water resources and environment continues even without s donors.

The workshop focused on assessing the activities implemented by various stakeholders in the environment for a period of five years was coordinated by the WWF through its Ruaha Water Program in conjunction with the RBWB.

Officials from WWF Tanzania through its Water Program Ruaha have urged stakeholders to preserve the environment and water resources by using the concept of inclusion.

They said that the Government has put legal framework as well as the adoption of the law of the Environment (2004), the release of water policy (July 2002) and the Law of Management of Water Resources No. 11 of 2009.

Roy Kadege, who is also an accountant from one Water Users Association (WUA) in small river basin of Mpando in Wanging'ombe district, Njombe Region, said that the community will ensure that they regulates the whole issue of the management of water resources and the environment.

She said that although the project expires, they will continue to provide education on environmental protection in the area, hence protect the catchment.

She said that through the Ruaha Water program, the neighborhood of water users managed to provide education management of water resources and the environment in 20 villages surrounding the small valley of the Mpando River.

Kadege said that after the existence of the project they have been able to take care of water sources and restoring of River Mbarali in Mbeya region.

“The river was almost drying up due to various economic activities which was unsustainable but the presence of the project we have preserved the environment,” said Kadege.

And also Adamson Msigala, who is also chairman of the water users of Mpando river basin said that in order the exercise of management of water resources and the environment to be sustainable district councils should does allocate funds in their budgets for activities of environmental protection rather than relying donors.

He said that the poverty should not be a criterion to destroy environmental but people should work together and preserve the environment.

Msigala added that when they the WWF project came for the first time, they find it difficult to understand because they were used to cultivate the sources of water.

For his part, the District Wanging'ombe Community Development Officer, Njombe Region Michael Haule, who is also a district facilitating team (DFT) commended the WWF through the Ruaha Water Program and the Rufiji Basin Water Board (RBWB) for linking environmental stakeholders in order to their plans together.

He suggested also that in the future when there is such workshops involve the security forces and the courts to be able to identify water users associations that exist legally.

Haule said that without the involvement of these people, management of water resources and the environment will be tough because there will be interference between them and water users associations.

He said that there are times when certain water users associations arrested environmental destruction culprits of water sources but when taken to the police were released on the ground that their not law that galvanizes that issue.

He added that the RBWB meetings should make sure they invited anti-corruption institutions (PCCB), the police and the courts in order to identify the work of water users to fully manage the whole issue of water resources and the environment.

CLEAR SKIES Adapting to climate change in Africa will hinge on improved transparency

Sunset at the historic Menara garden in Marrakech, Morocco, (AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy)

Marrakech, Morocco

After last year’s adoption of the Paris Agreement, the Marrakech climate summit – which closed last week and was billed Africa’s COP – focused on issues for its implementation, including finance. Transparency was central to that discussion.

But while the so-called Paris rulebook has until 2018 to be defined, time is running out for many of the continent’s countries on the frontline of climate change facing prolonged droughts, flooding and extreme temperatures. Finding funding to help deal with such effects, let alone reduce emissions, is key.

African states, together with other likeminded countries, have long pressured developed countries to boost financial support. Those controlling the purse strings however have been reluctant, saying greater transparency was needed to assure that money was going to where it is needed.

A report earlier this year by Transparency International pointed to the high risk of corruption in several African countries reliant on climate funds. It claimed Cameroon, Ghana, Zambia and Zimbabwe were particularly at risk of misusing international funds intended for their REDD+ initiative , a forest preservation program under the United Nations climate change unit, the UNFCCC.

Also, the corruption watchdog’s latest Corruption Perception Indexshowed that some of the world’s most climate change vulnerable countries were amongst the least transparent countries globally.

Eritrea, Chad, Central African Republic, Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo, which Notre Dame University’s Global Adaptation Index listed as the worst off countries worldwide in terms of climate adaptation readiness also figured amongst the last 27 of the 167 countries on Transparency International’s list.

“The problem of transparency is on the rise. If we let governments do things in their own way, the corruption will be there,” said Benson Kibiti from Caritas Kenya told Quartz at the Marrakech summit. “That’s the biggest challenge in Africa.”

He was there advocating against plans to build a coal-fired energy plant on the island of Lamu – part of a Kenyan-Chinese partnership – that would involve importing the combustible from other countries.

There, as elsewhere on the continent, powerful lobbies supporting the fossil fuel industry were allowing such projects to prevail, and ran against global emissions-cutting drives proclaimed in the Paris Agreement.

“Undue influence by fossil fuel lobbies is a problem in Africa, as it is in the US and Europe,” Lutz Weischer of Germanwatch, a non-profit group, said.

Transparency at a price

But assuring the proper use of international funds for climate programs already often involves demanding rules that often differ according to donor source, which may be a regional bank, a UN agency, the World Bank or a country donor.

Marilene Diara, an official with Senegal’s environment ministry explained that procedures she encountered for applying to funds were complex, with requirements varying and often facing regular alterations at donor institutions.

Given the multiplicity of finance sources, the creation of the Green Climate Fund, intended to raise $100 billion, was to centralize support to developing countries in their efforts to build clean energy and climate-resistant economies. Pledges to date have fallen short of the target.

But while the Paris treaty did not determine how money from the fund would be administered, negotiators in Marrakech nonetheless agreed that governments would have to submit extensive details on adaptation programmes when applying for funds.

Isaiah Kipyegon Torotich of Act Alliance, an international association of NGOs, worried that implementing such rules could be difficult where technical expertise was lacking, meaning that those most in need may be left out.

“(Assuring) transparency is a capacity issue. The requirement is burdensome, necessitating scientific and empirical investigation, that some governments cannot provide.”

In other words, even with the best intentions, being transparent can be difficult.

Amongst the donor countries, Switzerland has been an active negotiator on the transparency.

“The challenge is to find a right balance between being precise enough without being burdensome,” Franz Perrez, the country’s climate negotiator told Quartz.

WAMILIKI WA BLOG TANZANIA KUKUTANA WIKI HII, NMB YADHAMINI MKUTANO HUO

Chama cha Wamiliki/Waendeshaji mitandao ya kijamii nchini (Tanzania Bloggrs Network-TBN) mapema leo Disemba, 2 imekabidhiwa cheki maalum ya kiasi cha Tsh. Milioni 10, fedha zilizotolewa na benki ya NMB kama wadhamini wakuu wa Mkusanyiko wa ‘Bloggers’ kutoka maeneo mbalimbali ya mikoa ya Tanzania Bara na Visiwani Zanzibar.

Katika tukio hilo, Mwenyekiti wa muda wa TBN, Bwana Joachim Mushi amepongeza benki ya NMB kwa kuweza kudhamini tukio hilo muhimu na la kihistoria kwani litasaidia wana blogger kwa ujumla kuweza kukutana pamoja na kujifunza kile ambacho wanapaswa kuwahabarisha Umma kupitia blog zao.

“Tunawapongeza benki ya NMB kwa udhamini huu na tunawaomba sana waendelee kutudhamini kwani kazi iliyopo mbele yetu kwa sasa ni kutoa elimu sahihi kwa wenzetu ambao watajumuika katika mkutano huu utakaofanyika siku mbili yaani 5 na 6 Desemba,2016. Kwa washiriki takribani 150 kutoka Tanzania nzima ambapo pia tukio hilo litafuatiwa na mkutano mkuu kwa wanachama hai wa TBN na kujadili mambo mbalimbali,” alieleza Joachim Mushi.

Ofisa Uhusiano wa NMB, Doris Kilale amesema kuwa wataendelea kushirikiana na Tanzania Bloggers Network-TBN kwani inaamini kufanya hivyo ni moja ya njia ya kufikisha ujumbe kwa jamii hasa kupitia mitandao ya kijamii.

“NMB imekuwa mstari wa mbele katika kushirikiana na wadau wa habari mbalimbali na sasa tunashirikiana na TBN na tumeweza kutoa kiasi cha Shilingi milioni 10 kwa ajili ya mkutano wao wa mwaka utakaofanyika 5 na 6 Desemba mwaka huuna. Pia kama munavyofahamu kuwa NMB ipo karibu yako hivyo kupitia mitandao ya kijamii na Blog itaendelea kufikisha habari zetu kwa jamii kwa wigo mpana zaidi.” alieleza Ofisa Uhusiano huyo, Doris Kilale.

Mkutano huo unatarajia kufanyika jijini Dar es Salaam hiyo 5 na 6 Desemba katika ukumbi wa wa mikutano wa makao makuu ya jengo la Golden Jubilee PSPF.

Aidha, mbali na Benki ya NMB kuwa wadhamini wakuu katika tukio hilo, pia wadhamini wengine ni pamoja na NHIF,SBL, PSPF na Coca Cola ambao wote kwa pamoja wamejitokeza kufanikisha katika tukio hilo.

…KUVUNJIKA KWA KOLEO SIO MWISHO WA UHUNZI

WANANCHI na wadau mbalimbali wa mazingira wameshauriwa kutunza mazingira hata baada ya wafadhili kumaliza mradi wao kwani kuvunjika kwa koleo sio mwisho wa uhunzi.

Kauli hiyo imetolewa na maofisa maendeleo jamii wa shirika la kuhifadhi la mazingira duniani (WWF-Tanzania), Martha Sanga na Evergris Makfura wakati wakifunga warsha ya wadau ya usimamizi wa rasilimali za maji na mazingira  mjiini Makambako, mkoani Njombe.

Walisema katika nyakati tofauti kuwa wananchi na wadau mbalimbali wa mazingira wanabudi kuendelea hata baada ya programu ya maji Ruaha kumaliza muda wake, kwani utunzaji wa mazingira ni jukumu la kila mtu.

Walisema kuwa suala la usimamizi wa rasilimali za maji na mazingira sio la wafadhili, bali ni jukumu la kila mmoja kuhakikisha mazingira yanatunzwa.

Shirika la WWF kwa kupitia Programu yake ya Maji Ruaha (RWP) kwa kushirikiana na Bodi ya Maji Bonde la Rufiji (RBWB), halmashauri, wananchi na wadau mbalimbali wa mazingira walitekeleza mradi wa miaka mitano wa katika usimamizi wa rasilimali za maji na mazingira ambao ulikuwa na lengo la rudisha hali ya Mto Ruaha Mkuu ili uweze kutiririsha maji kwa mwaka mzima. 

Martha na Makfura walisema kuwa bado mapambano ya  utunzaji wa rasilimali za maji na mazingira  yanaendelea hata bila kuwepo wafadhili .

Warsha hiyo ililenga kutathmini shughuli zilizotekelezwa na wadau mbalimbali wa mazingira kwa kipindi cha miaka mitano cha utekelezaji ulioratibiwa na shirika la WWF kupitia Programu yake ya Maji Ruaha kwa kushirikiana na Bodi ya Maji Bonde la Rufiji (RBWB).

Maafisa maenedeleo ya jamii kutoka Shirika la WWF Tanzania kupitia Programu yake ya Maji Ruaha wamewataka wadau kuendelea kuhifadhi mazingira na vyanzo vya maji kwa kutumia dhana ya ushirikishwaji.

Maafisa hao wa jamii walisema kuwa Serikali ilishaweka sawa mahitaji ya kisheria (legal framework) kama vile kupitishwa kwa Sheria Mama ya Mazingira (2004), kutolewa kwa Sera ya Maji (Julai 2002) na Sheria ya Usimamizi wa Rasilimali za Maji Namba 11 ya mwaka 2009.

Naye Roy Kadege ambaye pia ni Mhasibu wa Jumuiya ya Watumiaji Maji (WUA) katika Bonde dogo la Mto Mpando wilayani Wanging’ombe, mkoani Njombe, alisema kuwa jumuiya hiyo atahakikisha inasimamia kikamilifu suala zima la usimamizi wa rasilimali za maji na mazingira.

Alisema kuwa pamoja kuwa mradi kumaliza muda wake, wataendelea kutoa elimu ya utunzaji wa mazingira kwa vile vyanzo vingi vya maji vipo katika ukanda wao na ambako vyanzo vya mito vinakoanzia.

Alisema kuwa kupitia programu ya Maji Ruaha, jumuiya hiyo ya watumiaji wa maji imeweza kutoa elimu ya usimamizi wa rasilimali za maji na mazingira katika vijiji 20 vinavyozunguka bonde dogo la Mto Mpando.

Alisema kuwa baada ya kuwepo mradi huo wameweza kutunza vyanzo vya maji na kulikopelekea kurudisha Mto Mbarali mkoani Mbeya. 

Mto huo ulikauka kutokana na shughuli mbalimbali za kiuchumi zisizo endelevu lakini na kwa uwepo wa mradi huo wameweza kutunza mazingira.

Naye Adamson Msigala ambaye pia ni Mwenyekiti wa jumuiya ya watumia maji (WUA) katika bonde la mto Mpando alisema kuwa ili zoezi la usimamizi wa rasilimali za maji na mazingira ziweze kuwa endelevu halmashauri hazinabudi kutenga fedha kwenye bajeti zao kwa ajili ya shughuli za utunzaji mazingira kuliko kutegemea wafadhili.

“Kwa mfano, wadau wetu wa maendeleo wanamaliza mradi wao haina maana kwamba shughuli za usimamizi wa rasilimali za maji na mazingira zatasimama rahasha, sasa ni jukumu letu wananchi kwa shirikiana na halmashauri zetu kuweka mikakati yakuweza kuendelea pale wadau wetu walipoishia,” alisema Msigala.

Alisema kuwa kigezo cha umaskini kisiwe chanzo cha kuharibu mazingira ni lazima watu wafanya kazi kutunza mazingira bila kusukumwa bali kwa moyo.

Aliongeza kuwa wakati WWF wanaleta mradi huo kwa mara ya kwanza, wananchi walikuwa wagumu kuuelewa kwa vile walikuwa wamezoea kulima kwenye vinyungu ambavyo ni vyanzo vya maji.

Kwa upande wake, Ofisa Maendeleo ya Jamii Wilaya ya Wanging’ombe, mkoani Njombe Michael Haule ambaye pia ni timu ya wawezeshaji ya wilaya (DFT) alilipongeza shirika la WWF kupitia programu ya maji Ruaha pamoja na Bodi ya Maji Bonde la Rufiji (RBWB) kwa kuwaunganisha wadau mbalimbali wa mazingira ili kuweza kupanga mipango yao kwa pamoja. 

Alipendekeza pia kuwa kwa siku za usoni kunapokuwa na warsha kama hizo washirikishe na vyombo vya usalama na mahakama ili waweze kutambua jumuiya za watumia maji kuwa zipo kisheria.

Alisema kuwa bila kushirikisha vyombo hivyo usimamizi wa rasilimali za maji na mazingira utakuwa mgumu kwa vile kutakuwa na na mwingiliano wa shughuli baina ya vyombo hivyo na jumuiya za watumia maji.

Alisema kuwa kuna wakati fulani jumuiya za watumia maji zilikuwa zikiwakamata waharifu wa uharibifu wa vyanzo vya maji na wakipelekwa polisi wanatolewa.

Kumbe kungekuwa na ushirikishaji wa vyombo hivyo na vikatambua kuwa jumuiya za watumia maji zipo kisheria wangeweza kwenda pamoja.

Aliongeza kuwa Bodi ya Maji Bonde la Rufiji wanapoitisha mikutano yao wahakikishe wanawaalika taasisi ya kupambana na rushwa (TAKUKURU), polisi na mahakama ili waweze kuvitambua vyombo hivyo vya watumia maji ili kusimamia kikamilifu suala zima la rasilimali za maji na mazingira.