Babati District Executive Director Anna Mbogo
Babati District Council has started elections for new leaders of the Burunge Wildlife Management Area (WMA), with the new administration expected to protect a conservation model that generates about Sh4 billion annually and channels more than Sh200 million a year to member villages.
The elections follow the completion of reforms to the WMA’s constitution and management system, which authorities say are intended to strengthen conservation, tourism and revenue management.
Burunge WMA lies between Tarangire and Lake Manyara national parks in Manyara Region and comprises 10 villages: Mwada, Sangaiwe, Vilima Vitatu, Ngoley, Kakoi, Olasiti, Manyara, Magara, Maweni and Minjingu.
Babati District Executive Director Anna Mbogo said the elections were part of efforts to establish a stronger leadership structure capable of improving conservation and tourism while increasing the economic benefits generated from the area.
“The elections have started, and once completed, we expect to have capable leaders who can strengthen conservation and tourism and, most importantly, increase tourism revenue for the benefit of the villages and the government,” Ms Mbogo said.
The elections follow the suspension of the previous leadership over various allegations, before its term subsequently came to an end.
Ms Mbogo said the constitutional and operational reforms had now been completed, allowing the communities to elect new leaders.
She said the process was also in line with President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s efforts to increase national revenue through tourism.
The Government’s promotion of Tanzania through the Royal Tour film had helped raise the country's profile internationally, she said, but more work was needed to improve tourism infrastructure and services in protected areas.
Burunge WMA has recently gained further international recognition through Chem Chem Lodge, which is located within the WMA and has won Safari Luxury Lodge awards for Africa and Tanzania from the World Travel Awards (WTA).
“This award continues to promote Burunge WMA and will help attract more tourists. We also urge other investors in the area to improve their services so that we can continue attracting visitors,” Ms Mbogo said.
Chem Chem General Manager Clever Zulu said the lodge wanted to see Burunge WMA become one of Africa’s leading wildlife management areas through better conservation, tourism attractions and accommodation services.
He said the lodge’s directors, Nicolaus Negri and Fabia Bausch, had made the development of the WMA part of their long-term strategy.
“We have also started receiving conservation officials from other parts of Africa who come here to learn from our experience,” Mr Zulu said.
He said wildlife numbers had increased, poaching had been brought under control and surrounding communities were benefiting from conservation through revenue-sharing arrangements.
Outgoing Burunge WMA Speaker Erick Lilayoni said annual revenues had grown to about Sh4 billion, while member villages had been receiving more than Sh200 million each year through the revenue-sharing system.
“I do not intend to seek another leadership position, but I believe that if this area is properly managed, greater benefits will continue reaching the residents of the 10 villages and the government as a whole,” Mr Lilayoni said.
Ms Mbogo urged qualified residents committed to conservation and tourism development to contest the various leadership positions, saying the new leaders would have a key role in safeguarding both the WMA’s environmental and economic gains.