The government has reaffirmed its commitment to protecting Tanzania’s wildlife resources by equipping officers from the National Task Force Against Poaching (NTAP) with advanced skills to tackle poaching and the illegal wildlife trade.
Speaking at the closing ceremony of a three-day training held in Mtwaumbu, Arusha, the Deputy Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism (Natural Resources Division), Commissioner of Police (CP) Benedict Wakulyamba, urged participants to translate the training into concrete action on the ground.
“This training was not just a formality,” said CP Wakulyamba. “Every session you attended was designed to sharpen your ability to conduct intelligence operations, effect arrests, carry out investigations, and manage prosecutions with professionalism and precision.”
He said the government, under the leadership of President Dr. Samia Suluhu Hassan, initiated the training as part of broader efforts to strengthen institutional capacity in combating wildlife crimes, particularly in response to the increasingly sophisticated tactics used by poachers.
The sessions focused on modern techniques in wildlife protection, with a key highlight being CP Wakulyamba’s own lecture on crime scene investigation.
He walked participants through the practical steps of examining crime scenes, collecting and preserving critical evidence, and linking it to suspects in wildlife-related offences.
“Success in protecting our natural heritage starts at the crime scene. If you mishandle evidence, you lose the case. That’s why these skills are essential,” he told participants.
ACP Jumanne Malangahe, Secretary of the NTAP, applauded the Ministry for its leadership and support in organizing the training.
He said the skills gained would strengthen frontline efforts to secure Tanzania’s forests and wildlife from exploitation.
“We are more prepared than ever,” said ACP Malangahe. “With this knowledge, we can protect these vital resources for both current and future generations.”
The training brought together selected officers from various enforcement agencies who form part of NTAP an interagency platform established to coordinate national efforts against poaching and wildlife trafficking.