AfricaPress-Tanzania: RUKWA Regional Commissioner (RC) Joachim Wangabo has given a three-day ultimatum to council directors in the region to submit to him letters that explain why they defied Vice- President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s directives which required them to plant 1.5 million tree seedlings.
In 2015 the VP directed all council directors across the country to plant 1.5 million tree seedlings to mitigate the effects of climate change, especially deforestation.
Administratively Rukwa Region has four councils: Sumbawanga Municipal Council, Sumbawanga, Kalambo and Nkasi district councils.
The RC noted that the situation was not encouraging in the region as in the 2018/19 fiscal year all four councils had planted 2.5 million tree seedlings, equivalent to 43 per cent while in 2019/20 the same planted only 1.6 million tree seedlings, equivalent to 26 per cent.
“This is unacceptable. I’m directing all four council directors to submit to me official letters explained why you defied the Vice-President’s directives… Your letters should be attached with an action plan draft to show how you are prepared to implement the VP’s directives by the end of this month,” directed the RC.
The RC directed also each council in the region to plant not less that 1.5 million tree seedlings during this rainy season and protect them.
Mr Wangabo said this on Tree Planting Day held at regional level at Mollo Agriculture Prison. The region observes the event each year on January 19.
For his part, Mollo Agriculture Prison Head Englibeet Chingolo said the facility had planted 655 avocado seedlings for the first time since its establishment in 1967.
