Photo: Muhammad Mahdi Karim/Wikipedia Bukoba — KAGERA Regional Commissioner, Mr Fabian Massawe has directed the Bukoba Municipal Director, Mr Hamis Kaputa, to evict all people who have constructed houses within 60 metres of Lake Victoria beaches and River Kanoni.
He directed the director to give them short notice to demolish their buildings including hotels, garages and residential houses. Mr Massawe issued the directive on Wednesday while giving a report on the implementation of the 2005-2012 Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) election manifesto.
"The Environmental Conservation Act is very clear on this. People who encroach beaches and rivers should not be spared. Those who will be stubborn should be prosecuted," he said.
Several hotels have mushroomed in recent months along Lake Victoria beaches in Bukoba Municipality while other people have constructed houses along Kanoni River, polluting the environment and causing a security risk.
In another development, MOSES MATTHEW reports from Mwanza that illegal fishing has dropped in Lake Victoria. The illegal use of banned fishing gear in Lake Victoria has been reduced by 45 per cent following a sustained regional campaign against the malpractice that has involved government operatives and members of the community.
Mwanza Regional Commissioner, Mr Evarist Ndikilo said recently that an investigation carried out in August last year showed that the use of illegal fishing gear in Lake Victoria has dropped significantly.
He noted that regional and district police marine departments, beach management units and members of the community on the lake's shores have been conducting patrols, seizing illegal fishing gear in the process.
The law enforcers have managed to arrest 1,178 illegal fishermen and impound 5, 971 banned fishing nets. Other impounded items were 992 sardines nets, 37,980 gillnet, 9,317 monofilaments, and 469,541 metres of ropes.
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