Kibondo. Dr. Florence Samizi, Member of Parliament for Muhambwe in Kibondo District, has announced significant positive impacts on the Moyowosi Game Reserve following the success of the Tanzanian film The Royal Tour, featuring President Samia Suluhu Hassan. The film has led to a substantial increase in tourist hunting visitors, generating significant revenue for the government.
Speaking during a training visit for councilors and political committee members in Kibondo, Dr. Samizi acknowledged the government’s efforts in managing wildlife resources and promoting conservation initiatives in line with the CCM party’s agenda. This visit was organized by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism and overseen by the Tanzania Wildlife Management Authority (TAWA).
Dr. Samizi noted that due to President Samia's initiatives to promote tourism, the Moyowosi reserve has experienced an unprecedented influx of hunting tourists this year, greatly benefiting local economies.
"This reserve has existed for many years but has never performed as well as it has this year," she remarked.
Statistics reveal that the reserve hosted only 39 tourists in the 2022/23 period, while this year, that number surged to 89—an increase of over 125%.
Revenue has also seen a remarkable rise, with the reserve generating 2.4 billion Tanzanian shillings in the previous year. As of now, even before the end of the fiscal year, it has already collected 3 billion shillings from tourism activities.
Dr. Samizi praised President Samia Suluhu Hassan for her significant contributions to the increase in both domestic and international tourism, noting that the rise includes not just photographic tourism but also hunting tourism, which has directly benefited surrounding communities.
Addressing how local communities benefit from tourism, Dr. Samizi reported that in 2024, surrounding villages have received 89 million shillings, which have been allocated to various development projects, including the construction of classrooms, village government offices, desks, and chairs for people with disabilities.
Wilbright Munuo, the TAWA Regional Conservation Commissioner for the Western Zone, highlighted the substantial financial benefits to neighboring villages from the Moyowosi reserve, stating that over 3 billion shillings were collected in the last financial year.
More than 134 million shillings have been allocated to Kibondo District, including over 89 million from wildlife fees and an additional 45 million from a USD 5,000 fee collected from each hunting block operating in the Moyowosi Game Reserve.
Munuo further announced that Moyowosi has been included in a carbon trading business initiative aimed at increasing the reserve’s revenue.
He urged participants of the training visit to spread the message within their communities to discourage illegal activities in the reserve, such as cattle grazing, plant destruction, poaching, and illegal fishing. He emphasized the importance of supporting government conservation efforts and actively implementing the policies of the ruling party.