ARUSHA -- Tanzania on Sunday announced it has suspended 27 forest officers and game rangers over corruption allegations and failures to supervise the management of the Uwanda forest reserve located in the western part of the east African nation.

Khamis Kigwangala, Tanzania’s Minister for Natural Resources and Tourism, said in a statement that among the suspended officials include the Uwanda forest acting manager, Lackson Mwamezi. 

All the suspended officials were working under the Tanzania Wildlife Management Authority (TAWA). 

Kigwangala reached the decision after listening to complaints from the villagers during a public gathering held at Kilyamatundu village. The villagers accused forest officials and game rangers of taking bribes from livestock keepers so as to allow them to graze in the forest reserve. 

He said the suspended officers were collecting 43.97 U.S. dollars, from each of the fishermen in Lake Rukwa in order to allow them to use prohibited illegal fishing gears, something which is against the country’s laws. 

According to the Tanzanian minister, livestock keepers were being charged between 2,637 U.S. dollars and 3,078 dollars for allowing their cattle in the reserve forest. 

Last week, the minister sacked the Uwanda forest manager, Mark Chuwa over similar allegations and failure to control farmers from grazing in the forest. 

According to Kigwangala, there were more than 12,000 heads of cattle grazing in the reserve area. 

Xinhua