ARUSHA: MINISTER for Natural Resources and Tourism, Dr Ashatu Kijaji, has directed the Tanzania National Parks Authority (TANAPA) to improve roads and bridges in national parks to ensure year-round accessibility as the country prepares to host major international events.
Speaking during the swearing-in of the newly appointed TANAPA Commissioner of Conservation, Mr Massana Mwishawa, at the authority’s headquarters in Arusha, Dr Kijaji said better infrastructure would enhance visitors’ experiences ahead of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Conference in October and the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
“I would like to see roads and bridges in our national parks improved and kept passable in all seasons,” she said.
The minister also instructed Mr Mwishawa to strengthen efforts against poaching, illegal logging and other wildlife crimes by adopting modern surveillance and security technologies.
Mr Mwishawa was appointed by President Samia Suluhu Hassan after serving as TANAPA Deputy Commissioner of Conservation responsible for Conservation and Business Development.
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He previously headed the Eastern Zone, overseeing Nyerere, Mikumi, Saadani and Udzungwa Mountains national parks. He succeeds Musa Nassoro Kuji, who retired after serving as Commissioner of Conservation.
TANAPA manages Tanzania’s national parks, which remain the country’s leading tourism attractions, with wildlife tourism accounting for nearly 70 per cent of international tourist visits.