Hassan Magulumali
The Tanzania Wildlife Management Authority (TAWA) has presented an update on measures taken to address recommendations raised by the Controller and Auditor General (CAG) for the 2024/25 financial year, highlighting progress in wildlife management, tourism, investment and community development.
The presentation was made on October 7, 2026, before the Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee (PAC) in Dodoma. The meeting was chaired by Acting Committee Chairperson Beng’i Issa and attended by TAWA Board Chairperson Major General (Retired) Hamis R. Semfuko and Acting Conservation Commissioner Mlage Y. Kabange.
TAWA officials explained measures being implemented to strengthen institutional accountability, improve the management of dangerous and destructive wildlife, expand tourism, increase government revenue and ensure communities living around protected areas benefit from wildlife-related activities.
On human-wildlife conflict, TAWA reported a major expansion of its capacity to respond to incidents involving dangerous and destructive animals. The Authority increased the number of beehive aircraft used in wildlife conflict interventions from six in 2022 to 50 in 2026.
TAWA also recruited 551 wildlife rangers and increased the number of wildlife veterinarians from one to five. Between 2024 and 2026, more than 1.63 million people received education on how to protect themselves from wildlife-related risks.
In addition, 187 village wildlife officers have been deployed across 37 districts experiencing significant human-wildlife conflict, strengthening community participation in wildlife protection and response mechanisms.
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The Authority also highlighted the results of its Special Wildlife Investment Concession Areas (SWICA) programme, which seeks to increase investment and improve the economic value of protected wildlife areas while supporting surrounding communities.
In the Ikorongo and Grumeti Game Reserves, annual revenue increased from an average of 1.9 billion Tanzanian shillings to 9.25 billion shillings. At the same time, community development contributions rose from 26.24 million shillings to 362.97 million shillings.
According to TAWA, those contributions have supported the provision of 3,014 desks, 21 computers and 24 hospital beds, linking wildlife-based economic activity with social development in neighbouring communities.
Maswa Game Reserve has also recorded significant growth. Tourism revenue increased from an average of 1.9 billion shillings to 8.6 billion shillings annually, while contributions to communities rose from 39.6 million shillings to 2.3 billion shillings.
The increased community contributions have supported projects in education, healthcare and infrastructure in Meatu, Bariadi and Itilima districts.
TAWA further reported progress in increasing tourism revenue through the electronic auctioning system for hunting blocks. The Authority’s revenue reached 87.32 billion shillings during the 2024/25 financial year.
The Authority has set an ambitious target of increasing annual revenue to 189 billion shillings by 2027/28. TAWA said the target will be pursued through increased investment, improved infrastructure and stronger promotion of Tanzania’s wildlife and tourism attractions.
The revenue strategy comes as Tanzania seeks to maximise the economic value of its wildlife resources while maintaining conservation standards and increasing benefits reaching communities living near protected areas.
During the PAC meeting, Beng’i Issa thanked TAWA officials for providing explanations and responses to the issues raised by the committee. He also issued directives aimed at strengthening accountability, operational efficiency and the implementation of TAWA’s responsibilities.
The discussions underline the growing importance of balancing wildlife conservation with economic development. For Tanzania, stronger tourism revenues and investment can provide additional resources for conservation, while community benefits can help strengthen local support for protecting wildlife and natural habitats.
TAWA’s reported progress also places greater emphasis on addressing human-wildlife conflict, an issue that directly affects communities living alongside protected areas. Expanding public education, village-level participation, trained personnel and rapid response capacity remains central to reducing risks while protecting Tanzania’s wildlife resources.
With the Authority targeting 189 billion shillings in revenue by 2027/28, the next phase will depend on how effectively Tanzania combines conservation, tourism investment, infrastructure development, accountability and tangible benefits for communities surrounding wildlife areas.
