KILIMANJARO Regional Commissioner (RC), Mr Said Meck Sadiki, has launched a campaign that will see a comprehensive clean up around Mount Kilimanjaro.
The RC urged tour companies to ensure neither their staff nor the tourists discard refuse during trekking up and down Africa’s highest mountain. He said the environment around the mountain should always be clean -- a situation that would help attract more tourists and earn the nation more foreign exchange.
He said the Government would take stern measures against anyone who discards litter. In the same vein the state would revoke licences of irresponsible tour guides companies and agents.
The campaign was launched at Marangu. “I appeal to you and your associations to make sure that when you take the tourists up and down the mountain no environmental degradation is done.
The routes and the environment should always stay clean,” said Mr Sadiki. He also issued a warning to people who harvest forest products in the half-mile zone of the mountain, directed responsible authorities to take action promptly.
Tanzania National Parks (Tanapa), Director General, Mr Allan Kijazi said his organization was doing all it could, night and day, to ensure that cleanliness is maintained around the mountain.
He said the mountain is one of the main sources of revenue to Tanapa, and hence the nation. “This mountain is important for the economy of the country. So, we are all duty-bound to make sure the environment is clean all the time,” said Mr Kijazi.
He expressed his appreciation on how Kilimanjaro National Park (Kinapa), works. It recently got an award as the most attractive tourist destination in Africa. Kinapa Chief Park Warden, Ms Betrita Loibooki, said the special campaign would take place for 10 days.
It brings together different tourism stakeholders, including tour operators, guides, cooks, porters as well as Tanapa and Kinapa officials.
“We do cleanliness regularly but this is a special one. It has been lined up in order to join hands with President John Magufuli in the cleanliness campaign which he initiated on December 9th, last year,” she said.
