An umbrella body bringing together strategic wildlife investors has been launched in Arusha, with members pledging to work closely with the government to expand tourism and generate up to Sh790 billion in revenue over the next 20 years.
The association, known as the SWICA Operators Association of Tanzania (SOAT), unites investors operating in strategic wildlife conservation areas across the country.
Speaking during the launch, Vice Chairperson of SOAT Ms. Martha Lukumay Baare said members plan to invest about $50 million (approximately Sh125 billion) in community development projects over the next two decades.
She added that the association will also channel at least $20 million into anti-poaching initiatives and another $7 million into research programmes aimed at strengthening wildlife conservation and promoting sustainable tourism.
Ms Baare said SOAT will prioritise strengthening regulatory systems to ensure effective management of conservation areas while creating a predictable environment for long-term wildlife tourism investments.
“Our vision is to connect wildlife, communities and tourism for sustainable economic success. Our mission is to collaborate in protecting wildlife, empowering communities in conservation and promoting sustainable tourism,” she said.
She noted that the association will work to broaden tourism opportunities for visitors through both consumptive and non-consumptive wildlife activities, while promoting innovative tourism investments and supporting the development and marketing of tourism products without compromising conservation standards.
Ms Baare said the association also plans to mobilise investments aimed at improving infrastructure within conservation areas, strengthening conservation efforts and enhancing social and economic benefits for surrounding communities.
Launching the association, Board Chairman of the Tanzania Wildlife Management Authority (TAWA), former Major General, Hamis Semfuko, commended investors under the Strategic Wildlife Investment initiative for forming the association, saying it will improve coordination between investors and the government.
He said the government has already recorded significant gains from the initiative, noting that strategic wildlife investments have increased more than ninefold since the programme was introduced.
According to him, the initiative started with six investors who collectively committed investments worth $278 million (about Sh696 billion).
Major General Semfuko said the number of investors has since increased to 13, with several others expressing interest, reflecting growing confidence in Tanzania’s wildlife investment model.
He added that Samia Suluhu Hassan has been closely monitoring the SWICA investment programme, expressing confidence that it will deliver significant benefits to the country while helping to reduce human-wildlife conflicts, create employment opportunities and increase national revenue.
Earlier, Acting Commissioner General of the Tanzania Wildlife Management Authority, Mlage Yussuf Kabange, said areas under the SWICA programme fall within TAWA’s jurisdiction and assured the association of continued cooperation to help it achieve its objectives.
Mr Kabange said stronger collaboration between investors and conservation authorities will also support the government’s goal of attracting eight million tourists annually by 2030.
Also speaking during the launch, Nicolaus Negri, a director at Mwiba Holdings Ltd and one of the founding members of SOAT, thanked the government for supporting the initiative and pledged that the association would work closely with authorities to strengthen conservation and tourism development.
He also acknowledged the participation of key stakeholders including the Tanzania Association of Tour Operators (TATO), the Tanzania Hunting Operators Association (TAHOA) and the Tanzania Wildlife Research Institute (TAWIRI).
Areas currently covered under the SWICA investment model include the northern part of the Maswa Game Reserve, Maswa Kimali and Maswa Mbono areas, the Grumeti Game Reserve and Ikorongo Game Reserve, Mkungunero Game Reserve, the Lake Natron Game Controlled Area and the LL1 hunting block within the Selous Game Reserve.
