DC KASESELA BANS CATCHING OF SMALL FISH AT MTERA DAM

By Friday Simbaya, Iringa

IRINGA District Commissioner Richard Kasesela has banned exploitation of young fish that are below the maximum allowable three inches (3) because it is contributing to the destruction of fish hatcheries in Mtera Dam.

He said that for a long time Mtera Dam has been facing the problem of illegal fishing using illegal fishing tools such as Kokoro, Gonga, and Kimia and Katuli type of fishing nets.

Kasesela gave the directive yesterday during exercise destruction of 124 illegal fishing gears with fire held in the Migoli Village of Iringa district in Iringa region.

He said that illegal fishing has resulted in reducing the rate of fish in Mtera Dam for fishing small sized fish under three inches (3) hence the destruction of fish hatcheries.

"The presence of this dam has had benefits for the community, has enabled fisheries boost incomes and improve nutrition in the community since nearly 90 percent of the population of villages living near the dam depends on it, 'said Kasesela.

Moreover, Iringa District Council has an area of ​​220 kilometers of the dam which is composed Migoli Ward with Kinyali, Mbweleli, Makatapola, Mtera, Mtera, Migoli na Mapera villages, and Izazi Ward with Mnadani na Makuka villages.

And also Migoli Ward Councilo, Majaliwa Lyaki (CHADEMA) said that the exercise of the ban on illegal fishing in the Mtera dam will not be productive as the other side of the dam continues to fish using illegal gears.

He said that Mtera Dam lies in the area of ​​Chamwino and Mpwapwa district councils in Dodoma and Iringa District Council in Iringa region.

"In order to have sustainable fisheries in Mtera Dam illegal fishing in the part of Chimwino and Mpwapwa district councils in Dodoma Region must control the use o illegal fishing tools," said Lyaki.

For his part, Iringa District Council Livestock and Fisheries Officer, Mathew Sanga said that in controlling illegal fishing they have caught 124 illegal fishing gears, 7,227 kilograms of juvenile fish and 16 suspects were arrested.

He said that the suspects were sent to the court of whom 12 were convicted and four (4) are still ongoing with court cases.

Sanga noted that Iringa District Council is facing a challenge of illegal fishing and in order to put an end to such acts have been patrolling and educating fishermen, fish traders and transporters.

He said that the Council convened a meeting on 03.29.2017 where 121 fishermen and transporters were involved; the aim was to provide education for transporters of fish, fish buyers and fishermen to comply with the law number 22 of 2003 and its regulations of 2009.

These regulations require each everyone to do fish business with a fishing license hence avoid the use of three-inch fishnets to the young fish.

Mtera Dam covers 660 square kilometers and the surrounding district councils of Chamwino and Mpwapwa in Dodoma Region and Iringa District Council in Iringa Region.

DC KASESELA APIGA MARUFUKU UVUAJI SAMAKI WACHANGA BWAWA LA MTERA

Na Friday Simbaya, Iringa, zana haramu za uvuvi za chomwa moto Migoli

IRINGA: Mkuu wa Wilaya ya Iringa Richard Kasesela amepiga marufuku uvuaji wa samaki wachanga walio chini ya kiwango kinachoruhusiwa cha inchi tatu (3) kuankochangia uharibifu wa mazalia ya samaki katika Bwawa la Mtera. 

Alisema kuwa kwa muda mrefu Bwawa la Mtera limekuwa likikabiliwa na tatizo la uvuvi haramu unaotumia zana haramu za uvuvi kama vile nyavu za kokoro, gonga, kimia na katuli. 

Kasesela alitoa agizo hilo jana wakati wa zoezi la uteketezaji wa zana haramu za uvuvi 124 kwa moto lililofanyika katika Kijiji cha Migoli, Taarafa ya Isimani wilayani Iringa, mkoani Iringa. 

Alisema kuwa uvuvi haramu umepelekea kupunguza kiwango cha samaki katika Bwawa la Mtera kwa kuvua samaki wachanga walio chini ya inchi tatu (3) na kupelekea uharibifu wa mazalia ya samaki. 

“Uwepo wa bwawa hili umekuwa na faida kwa jamii, umewezesha shughuli za uvuvi kuwaongezea kipato na kuboresha lishe katika jamii kwa vile karibu asilimia 90 ya wananchi wa vijiji vinavyoishi karibu na bwawa hilo vinalitegemea,’ alisema Kasesela. 

Aidha Halmashauri ya Wilaya ya Iringa ina eneo la kilometa 220 za bwawa hilo ambapo linajumuisha Kata ya Migoli katika vijiji vya Kinyali, Mbweleli, Makatapola, Mtera, Mtera, Migoli na Mapera na Kata ya Izazi katika vijiji vya Mnadani na Makuka. 

Naye, Diwani wa Kata ya Migoli, Majaliwa Lyaki (CHADEMA) alisema kuwa zoezi la kupiga marufuku uvuvi haramu katika Bwawa la Mtera halitakuwa na tija kama upande wa pili la bwawa hilo wanaendelea kuvua samaki kwa kutumia zana haramu za uvuvi. 

Alisema kuwa Bwawa la Mtera lipo katika eneo linalozinguka Halmashauri za Chamwino na Mpwapwa katika mkoa wa Dodoma na Halmashauri ya Iringa katika mkoa wa Iringa. 

“Ili kuwepo na uvuvi endelevu katika Bwawa la Mtera uvuvi haramu katika upande wa halmashauri za chimwino na Mpwapwa Mkoa wa Dodoma lazima udhhibitiwe…, ” alisema Lyaki. 

Kwa upande wake, Ofisa Mifugo na Uvuvi wa Halmashauri ya Wilaya ya Iringa, Mathew Sanga alisema kuwa katika kudhibiti uvuvi haramu wamefanyikwa kukamata zana haramu 124 na samaki wachanga kilo 7,227 na watuhumiwa 16 walikamatwa. 

Alisema kuwa watuhumiwa hao walipelekwa mahakamani ambapo kati yao 12 walikutwa na makosa na nne (4) kesi zao bado zinaendelea mahakamani. 

Sanga alibaini kuwa Halmashauri ya Wilaya ya Iringa inakabiliwa na uvuvi haramu na hili kukomesha vitendo hivyo wamekuwa wakifanya doria na kutoa elimu kwa wavuvi, wafanyabiashara na wasafirishaji wa samaki. 

Aidha Halmashauri iliitisha mkutano tarehe 29.03.2017 ambapo wavuvi na wasafirishaji 121 walishiriki, lengo likiwa ni kutoa elimu kwa wasafirishaji wa samaki, wanunuzi wa samaki na wavuvi kuzingatia sheria namba 22 ya mwaka 2003 na kanuni zake za mwaka 2009. 

Kanuni hizo zinamtaka kila mmoja kufanya biashara akiwa na leseni ya uvuvi na biashara ya samaki pamoja na matumizi ya nyavu zenye inchi tatu ili kutovua samaki wachanga. 

Bwawa la Mtera lina ukubwa wa kilometa za mraba 660 na linalozunguka Halmashauri za Chamwino na Mpwapwa katika Mkoa wa Dodoma na Halmashauri ya Wilaya ya Iringa katika Mkoa wa Iringa.

IRINGA DC YATAKIWA KUSIMAMIA SHERIA YA MAZINGIRA

Kikosi kazi cha kunusuru ikolojia ya mto Ruaha Mkuu kikikagua chanzo cha maji Kivalali kilichopo kijiji cha Bandabichi wilayani Iringa, mkoani Iringa jana. (Picha na Friday Simbaya)

Na Friday Simbaya, IRINGA

Halmashauri ya Wilaya ya Iringa imetakiwa kusimamia Sheria ya Mazingira vizuri ili kuondoa uharibifu wa mazingira katika bonde la mto Ruaha Mkuu.

Agizo hilo lilitolewa na mwenyekiti wa kikosi kazi namba tatu cha kunusuru ikolojia ya mto Ruaha mkuu ambaye pia ni Katibu Tawala mkoa wa Iringa, Wamoja Ayubu wakati kikosi kazi hicho kilipokutana na timu ya menejimenti ya Halmashauri ya wilaya ya Iringa jana. 

Ayubu alisema kuwa Halmashauri ya wilaya ya Iringa inakabiliwa na uharibifu mkubwa wa mazingira. “Ndugu zangu, sheria ya Mazingira lazima isimamiwe ipasavyo. Katika kusimamia vizuri sheria hii wekeni utaratibu mzuri wa kusimamia sheria hii kwa kuziimarisha kamati za mazingira kuanzia ngazi za wilaya, kata na vijiji. Kamati hizi zikiimarishwa utekelezaji wa sheria utakuwa mzuri na wenye kutoa matokeo mazuri zaidi” alisema Ayubu. 

Aidha, alizitaka kamati za Mazingira kutekeleza majukumu yake na kutoa taarifa za kazi kwa mamlaka zinazohusika. Alisema kuwa utoaji wa taarifa utaziwezesha mamlaka kuwa na picha kamili ya hali halisi ilivyo na kuwa na uelewa wa pamoja katika kukabiliana na changamoto za kimazingira. 

Ayubu aliitaka Halmashauri hiyo kuelekeza miradi yote inayoanzishwa katika Halmashauri hiyo kutoa elimu kwa wananchi juu ya umuhimu wa utunzaji wa mazingira na uhifadhi wa vyanzo vya maji. Alisema kuwa ipo miradi ambayo imekuwa ikianzishwa pasipo kuwaelimisha wananchi juu ya utunzaji wa mazingira na kusababisha uharibifu wa mazingira na vyanzo vya maji. 

Aidha, aliitaka Halmashauri hiyo kuweka mikakati imara ya kutekeleza uhifadhi wa mazingira. “Halmashauri ya wilaya ya Iringa lazima muweke mikakati madhubuti inayotekeleza katika kusimamia uendelevu wa agenda ya uhifadhi wa mazingira” alisema Ayubu.

Mwenyekiti huyo alimtaka Mwanasheria wa Halmashauri kutoa elimu ya kina ya sheria ya Mazingira na utekelezaji wake kwa kamati ya usalama ya wilaya ili kuiwezesha inapotekeleza majukumu yake katika usimamizi na uhifadhi wa mazingira.

Kwa upande wa afisa ardhi wa wilaya ya Iringa, Donald Mshana alisema kuwa Halmashauri ya wilaya ya Iringa inakabiliwa na uharibifu mkubwa wa mazingira kutoka na shughuli mbalimbali zikiwemo kilimo ndani ya mita 60 kutoka kingo za mito na uingiaji wa mifugo mingi katika eneo ambalo halina uwezo wa kuihudumia. 

Alisema kuwa katika kukabiliana na uharibifu huo, halmashauri ya wilaya ya iringa imepanga kutekeleza mpango wa matumizi bora ya ardhi katika vijiji vyote vinavyozunguka eneo la bonde la mto Ruaha mkuu ili uhifadhi wa mazingira uweze kutekelezwa kwa mujibu wa sheria na kuwa endelevu.