Tanzania Sacks Wildlife Director over Incompetence

The Tanzanian government has announced the sacking of the director for wildlife, Alexander Songorwa, for failure to do his work properly.

Minister for Natural Resources and Tourism Lazaro Nyalandu told a press conference that Songorwa and his assistant, who was also suspended, failed to oversee operation Tokomeza Ujangili (the anti- poaching operation).

The operation, aiming to weed out poaching and illegal ivory trade in various parts of the country, including evacuating those grazing animals in conservation areas, was suspended last November following reports of killings of animals, their owners and innocent citizens.

After the operation was suspended, Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete sacked four government ministers following accusations of abuses committed by security forces. He made the dismissals after reports of arbitrary murder, rape, torture and extortion of innocent civilians by members of the anti-poaching crackdown.