Africa-Press – Tanzania. MINISTER of State in the Vice-President’s Office (Environment and Union Affairs), Engineer Hamad Yussuf Masauni, has said Tanzania’s election to the position of Vice-President of the UN Environment Assembly (UNEA) Bureau is a direct result of President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s strong leadership, global reputation and the respect the country has earned internationally.
He told the National Assembly yesterday that the position places Tanzania in a strategic seat of influence where it can advance national priorities on key environmental challenges, including climate change, biodiversity loss and access to clean energy. “This position will help the country benefit from global environmental financing opportunities,” he said.
Eng Masauni was responding to a follow-up question from Mbulu Urban MP Zacharia Isaay (CCM), who sought clarification on why three years had passed without the government issuing an updated multi-sectoral report on the status of Lakes Babati, Basuto, Tlawi and parts of Manyara Region and when the minister intends to visit the affected areas.
The minister stated that a team of experts has already visited Babati for an assessment to determine immediate government interventions.
He added that the government has developed a long-term plan, which includes acquiring specialised machinery to address the widespread challenge of invasive aquatic weeds in the affected water bodies.
Earlier, Deputy Minister in the Vice-President’s Office (Union and Environment), Dr Festo Dugange, informed the House that both Mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar are intensifying efforts to widen environmental financing from domestic and external sources.
He said the two governments are mobilising funds through several avenues including budget allocations from Zanzibar, applications to international climate and environmental financing mechanisms such as the Adaptation Fund (AF), Global Environment Facility (GEF) and the Green Climate Fund (GCF), as well as partnerships with development actors offering grants and concessional loans.
“The two governments will continue increasing resources for environmental programmes depending on the availability of project funds,” he said.
Dr Dugange noted that to date, a total of 10 projects worth approximately 97.6bn/- have been implemented and completed on both sides of the Union.
Additionally, he said preparations are underway for three new projects valued at about 62.6bn/-, which are currently in early development stages.
The deputy minister was responding to a basic question from Shaurimoyo MP Mattar Ali Salum (CCM), who asked whether the government sees the need to expand environmental financing to support Zanzibar’s efforts in combating climate impacts.
