TARIME is one of the districts whose herders and poachers pose a threat to the Serengeti National Park (SENAPA) ecology. Herders from three villages of Tarime are invading part of the park which is considered to be a jewel of the nation, searching for pasture and water.

The villages are Kegonga, Masanga and Gibasso, all with hundreds of herders living close the park but within the Serengeti eco-system.

The invasions have created what the Tanzania National Parks (TANAPA) is describing as pointless conflicts between SENAPA conservationists and the villagers.

"Some people from these villages are taking livestock to graze and drink water inside the park, hence causing unnecessary conflicts ", Mr Allan Kijazi, TANAPA Director General said. Apart from hampering conservation efforts the herders were posing a threat to the tourist hotels operated by serious investors in the park blessed with a variety of beautiful fauna and flora.

But there is new hope that the villagers might stop grazing on the beautiful plains of the world's famous park, thanks to TANAPA for donating 6,000 roofing sheets to the Tarime District Council on Monday this week. The iron sheets valued at 124 m/- would help in the construction of public buildings, with provision of education and health services getting priority in almost every district.

Mr Amos Sagara, the Tarime District Council Chairman said distribution of the roofing sheets would favour all public primary and secondary schools accommodating learners hailing from villages located near SENAPA.

"Villages adjacent the park will get a huge cake and the aim is to make them see the importance of conserving and protecting wild animals", Mr Sagara said shortly after the official handle over of the iron sheets. The sheets would further help to roof several rural police posts in a bid to improve security of citizens and their property in the district .

He said 1,400 of the iron sheets will be given to 12 public primary schools and two secondary schools situated in less developed rural areas bordering the park. "Each of the schools near SENAPA will get 100 iron sheets but some schools in other parts of Tarime will get 50 iron sheets (each)," the council leader explained.

"This is a good start and from next month ( August ) we will move around to tell those people living near SENAPA on the importance of conserving SENAPA so that they can stop destruction acts at the park," Mr Sagara who is also the councillor for Sirari ward(CCM) said.

Several leaders described the donation of iron sheets as a historical support for Tarime and pledged to start sensitizing people to stop destruction activities on the park's ecology .

" This is a huge support and it is a result of good relations we have with TANAPA," Mr Nyambari Nyangwine, the member of parliament for Tarime Constituency(CCM) said . The MP urged Tarime officials to make sure that the iron sheets are distributed in the entire district to serve the intended purpose.

"I would like to assure you that this is not the last donation, " Mr Kijazi said. The Director General called for immediate interventions against herders invading the park's vicinity with large number of cows. He asked Mara regional authorities to make interventions.

"We need your cooperation because what we are donating today is the fruits of good cooperation. If conflicts continue, we might not be able to celebrate the conservation fruits again," Mr Kijazi said in his brief remarks at the handing over ceremony, attended by TANAPA Board Chairman Mr Modestus Lilungulu.

Mr Kijazi blamed anticonversation statements given by some politicians in favour of the herders. Mr John Tupa ,the Mara Regional Commissioner(RC) admitted that the human/ wildlife conflicts were being fuelled by politicians .

"Let us not cheat our people. A good politician is the one who tells people the truth," the RC who was the guest of honour during the handling over ceremony said. "If we want these benefits to be sustainable there must be changes. Let us support conservation efforts ", the regional chief directed. He warned that those people who will not accept to change will face the full force of law.

" Let us educate people on the importance of conservation and put the laws protecting wild animals and people must respect the laws", Mr Tupa insisted at the event which was also attended by senior district and regional security officials . It is illegal to graze in national parks, according to the laws of the land.