Tanzania’s wildlife industry is ‘rife with corruption and general abuse’ according to a recent report compiled by Tanzania-based NGO, Angonet.
The report, State of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in the Wildlife Sector, outlines how tourism operators fail to pay fees to the relevant authorities and the authorities fail to pay the local villages.
Despite Tanzania’s rich wildlife, the report shows that wildlife conservation has not reduced poverty in rural areas or contributed to economic growth.
Villagers reported rampant corruption.
Revenues from hunting operations also don’t seem to trickle down to the local population. Wildlife Services are required to pay 25% of the hunting fee to local community developments but nobody is certain whether this is 25% from the gross fee or after expenses have been deducted. Commercial companies are also ignoring legal requirements for community investment. The Wildlife Conservation (Tourist Hunting) Regulations of 2010 require hunting companies to pay US$5 000 (R60 364) a year to community development. No company has so far paid the fee.
The report further highlights the low levels of spending on the national parks in Tanzania. The Serengeti National Park receives investment of just US$270 (R3 264) per square kilometre per year. In comparison, the Kruger National Park in South Africa receives US$1 800 (R21 761) and Yellowstone in the US receives US$3 000 (R36 268).
The study makes recommendations to resolve the situation, including the need for an effective system of accountability of leaders.
Another recommendation is that the government should clarify in the regulations the benefit-sharing formula by ensuring that at least most of the direct revenue from protected areas is kept at the community level.
The central government, local government, CSOs and other stakeholders should further also establish a national awareness platform to strengthen CSR and ethical conduct of business, the report states.
