In order to give the National Environment Management Council (NEMC) greater powers to protect Tanzania’s environment, the government plans to transform it into an authority.
Speaking in Dar es Salaam on Tuesday during a familiarization tour of NEMC offices by the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Industry, Trade and Environment, Deputy Minister in the Vice-President’s office (Union and Environment) Mussa Sima said the government appreciated that environmental protection was a cross-cutting issue and it was against this background they planned to convert it into an authority.
“There is every reason to transform NEMC into an authority because of importance of environment and its protection is of profound importance,” he told the committee, adding that since NEMC was the only institution tasked with environmental protection it needed more powers to discharge its duties properly.
The chairman of the committee, Mr Suleiman Saddiq, said it was the first time the committee heard of the government’s position on the issue. “We have received this proposal. We will discuss it within the committee and present our proposals to Parliament,” he responded.
Mr Saddiq said the committee was pleased with NEMC’s work, explaining that it was aware of the challenges NEMC faced and pledged the committee’s continued support to NEMC.
On lack of technical workforce, the chairman said the committee would recommend to the government how to end the problem. “NEMC deserves to have the workers it needs to perform its duties properly because the environment touches aspects of national life. We will take this up with the government,”he pledged
The committee had earlier been informed that due to lack of technical workers, NEMC had been unable to audit or monitor more than 10,000 registered projects.
The State Minister in the Vice-President’s Office (Union and Environment), Mr January Makamba called on NEMC to ensure the Environmental Management Act of 2004 and other laws were strictly observed by all.
“This Act in particular gives an officer powers and authority in discharging his duties. It is important to ensure it is firmly observed, he said.
NEMC Director General, Dr Samuel Gwamaka, assured the committee that his council would implement all committee’s directives.
The committee also visited Kihansi Spray Toad located at the University of Dar es Salaam, where it was briefed on frog history and the uniqueness.
SOURCE BY: DAILY NEWS