By Our Reporter
The Ngorongoro Conservation Area Authority (NCAA) has been urged to strengthen its preparedness for possible El Niño rains to prevent disruptions to tourism, conservation activities and the safety of visitors and local communities.
Deputy Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism, Nkoba Mabula, issued the directive during an inspection of infrastructure in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, where he called for faster improvements in vulnerable areas and stronger emergency response systems.
Mr Mabula commended the authority for improving roads, water supply, electricity, communication networks and working equipment, as well as educating employees and other stakeholders about measures to minimise the effects of heavy rainfall.
However, he said the authority should accelerate preparations, particularly by improving infrastructure in high-risk areas, ensuring the availability of machinery and strengthening health services.
He also called for practical training for rescue teams comprising conservation officers and rangers to ensure they can respond effectively to emergencies during the rainy season.
Mr Mabula said preparedness should go beyond having plans on paper, insisting that essential equipment and resources must be available before heavy rains begin.
“If El Niño comes, it should find us already prepared. Machinery, service vehicles, fuel and spare parts must be available at all times to ensure the safety of tourists, residents, wildlife and cultural heritage resources. We must also mark hazardous areas to increase awareness among people using them,” he said.
His directive comes as the authority seeks to protect tourism operations and conservation activities from potential disruptions caused by heavy rainfall, particularly where damaged roads could affect access to tourist attractions and essential services.
Speaking on behalf of the Ngorongoro Conservation Commissioner, Senior Assistant Commissioner for Conservation Gloria Bideberi said the authority had intensified awareness campaigns targeting employees, community leaders, students and residents.
She said the exercise had reached 200 employees, 275 village and ward leaders, more than 1,550 students and 4,965 residents in 10 wards within the conservation area.
The authority had also extended awareness efforts to 80 accommodation facilities and prepared three vehicles for medical response, alongside medical supplies to strengthen healthcare services during emergencies.
On infrastructure, the authority has prepared more than 11 pieces of machinery for road construction, maintenance and the recovery of visitors' vehicles that may become stranded during the rainy season.
Infrastructure Activities Coordinator Engineer Shaban Felician said the authority was also working to ensure that its road network, extending more than 600 kilometres, remains passable throughout the rainy season.
Maintaining the network is important for tourism operators, visitors, conservation personnel and communities who depend on roads to access different parts of the conservation area.
The preparations are aimed at reducing the risks associated with heavy rainfall while ensuring that tourism activities, wildlife protection and the safety of people remain priorities.
Mr Mabula's message was that the possibility of El Niño should not catch conservation authorities unprepared, particularly in an area where tourism depends heavily on reliable transport infrastructure and access to visitor facilities.