DIRECTORATE OF PRESIDENTIAL COMMUNICATIONSUNITED REPUBLIC OF TANZANIATelephone: 255-22-2114512, 2116898E-mail:
ikulumawasiliano@yahoo.compress@ikulu.go.tzFax: 255-22-2113425PRESIDENT¡¯S OFFICE, THE STATE HOUSE,P.O. BOX 9120,DAR ES SALAAM .Tanzania.PRESS RELEASEThe Government has reiterated its position on the planned tarmachighway around the Serengeti National Park to ease transport problems facing poor communities surrounding the Park,saying it will still go ahead and build the road.However, contrary to what groups lobbying against the planned highway have been claming, the Government insists the highway will not be built through the Serengeti, which has been aclaimed internationally as the World Heritage Site.The Government position was articulated yesterday (Thursday, January 27, 2011) by the President of the United Republic of Tanzania, His Excellency Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete during his bilateral talks withthe Managing Directorof the World Bank, Ms.Ngozi Ikonjo-Iweala atthe margins of the World Economic Forum(WEF), which both the President and Mrs.Ikonjo-Iweala are attending in Davos.¡° Contrarary to whatsome people are saying, and to the rumours being circulated everywhere, my Government has never decided to build a tarmac roadthrough the Serengeti ,¡± President Kikwete toldMs Ikonjo-Iweala.President Kikwete toldthe World Bank Managing Director that the Government plan seeks to severely reduce the length of the current road passing through the Serengenti National Park.He said that currently a 220-kilometre unpaved road was running through the Serengeti and that the Government want to reduce it to only 54kilometres that will pass through the National Park and those 54 kilometers will remain unpaved.¡° Currently, 220 kilometres of road are passing through Serengeti National Park, rightin the middle of thePark. And there is huge traffic crossing the park with large lorries and huge buses. Weare unhappy with this situation. We want to reduce the length of road going through the Serengenti to only 54 kilometres passing mainly through the northern tip of the Park ,¡± said President Kikwete.He added: ¡° This planned highway will meet three major objectives. One, is to reduce the flow of traffic passing the Park. Second, is to reduce the length of the road runningthrough the Serengeti and thirdis to empower those poor communities living just outside the Serengeti to have areliable road going through their area .¡±¡° Some of the accusations againstthe Tanzania Government on thisissue are quite absurd. People sit in Dar es Salaam and listen to all these people and institutions which are paid to say badthings about the Government, said the President and added :¡° Tanzania has the most impacable record in conservation in theworld. About 20 percent of our land has been under conservation since our independence in 1961. We are a leading nation in conservation in theworld. How, then can we make decisions that would destroy the Serengeti? We would be the last people to destroy the Serengeti .¡±President Kikwete hasadvised those who areinterested in getting accurate facts about Government plans on the road supporting poor communities surrounding the Serengeti National Party to talk to the right people.¡° We have a responsibility to our people. They need a road and wewill deliver it to them while fully preserving our beloved Serengeti National Park ,¡± said President Kikwete in relation to the long-running campaign against this road mainly by non-governmental organisations (NGO¡¯s) and some conservation groups.Ends.Submitted by
😀irector of Presidential Communication,DAVOS .28 January, 2011