Tanzania Takes Over LATF Leadership with a Strong Call for Regional Cooperation, Innovation, and Sustainable Tourism

 

Tanzania officially assumed the leadership of the 14th Governing Council of the Lusaka Agreement Task Force (LATF) on May 8, 2025, in Arusha. 

Dr. Pindi Chana, the newly elected Chair, used the occasion to call on member states to invest in technology, innovation, and modern governance systems to promote sustainable development in natural resource conservation across Africa.

“On behalf of the United Republic of Tanzania, I warmly welcome you to Arusha – the diplomatic city of East Africa, where peace, unity, and development come together. 

This meeting is not merely a formality; it is a symbol of our African solidarity in addressing global threats to our environment, economy, and sovereignty,” said Dr. Chana in her opening remarks.

Highlighting the importance of regional unity, she stated: “The Lusaka Agreement has continued to symbolize our collective commitment to fighting wildlife crime. It is not just a legal instrument but a platform for regional cooperation, information sharing, experience exchange, and joint solutions to the challenges we face.”

Dr. Chana outlined Tanzania’s key achievements over the past decade in wildlife protection, including the strengthening of laws, the establishment of the Wildlife and Forest Conservation Service (WFCS), the adoption of modern technologies to monitor wildlife crime, enhanced community awareness, and improved international and regional cooperation.

“These efforts have been recognized and supported by the international community. Now is the right time for LATF member countries to implement the LATF Strategic Plan 2025–2030, which is a crucial tool in achieving our shared goals,” she emphasized.

She concluded her speech by paying tribute to her predecessor: “I extend my sincere appreciation to Rebecca Miano, Cabinet Secretary for Tourism and Wildlife of the Republic of Kenya, for her outstanding leadership over the past two years as Chair of this Council.”

Earlier, Rebecca Miano underscored the value of collaboration in conservation efforts:

“We have seen the importance of the Lusaka Task Force in bringing countries together to fight wildlife crime and poaching so we can preserve our natural resources. 

God has blessed our nations with abundant wildlife and forests, but we allowed poachers to destroy them. If we do not protect these resources, we will suffer great losses, and our citizens will not benefit.”

Miano added: “We must continue working together as African countries to confront wildlife criminals. If we do not unite, offenders will take advantage of our disunity and move freely across borders. But with unity, we can easily stop them. 

Let us focus on sustainable tourism to create jobs for our youth, generate foreign income, and fully utilize Africa’s unique resources. We sincerely thank Tanzania for the warm hospitality.”

Tourism stakeholders also shared their perspectives

 Timothy Mdinka, Director, Learning and Discovering Africa , a Tanzanian tour company, spoke on existing challenges:

“Tourists are only spending one or two days in Arusha, yet this city offers many attractions like Arusha National Park, Meru Forest, and the National Museum. As tour operators, we must rethink and improve our itineraries.”

He stressed the need to boost regional tourism:

“We haven’t done enough to promote travel within Africa. If we encourage more Africans to visit attractions in other African countries, we will strengthen our tourism sector. That’s why we are now pushing for intra-Africa tourism.”

He concluded with an announcement:

“We’ve organized an international intra-Africa tourism marathon to be held in Arusha, within conservation areas and tourist sites. We want visitors to see that Arusha has enough to offer for more than just two days of travel.”

This year’s LATF meeting highlighted Africa’s collective responsibility to conserve its natural heritage. Through regional unity, innovation, and strategic investment, the continent can ensure its wildlife and ecosystems thrive while supporting sustainable development and economic growth.