🔴🔴 TAWA HANDS OVER 150 DESKS TO BARIDI PRIMARY SCHOOLS

By Beatus Maganja, Bariadi

The Government, through the Tanzania Wildlife Management Authority (TAWA), in collaboration with the tourist hunting company Bushman Safari Trackers, has handed over 150 desks to five primary schools located adjacent to the Maswa Game Reserve in Bariadi District, Simiyu Region.

The beneficiary schools include Mwauchumu Primary School (30 desks), Damidami (30), Halawa (30), Mwabalizi (30), and Nyawani Primary School, which also received 30 desks.

Speaking at the handover ceremony held on November 21, 2025, in Halawa Village, Acting Conservation Commander for TAWA’s Lake Zone, Mark Chuwa, said the desks were provided through the Smart Investment Project (SWICA), under which TAWA signed an agreement with Bushman Safari Trackers Ltd. One of the key provisions of the contract is ensuring that communities living around wildlife-managed areas benefit directly from wildlife resources.

“This is part of the implementation of that agreement, and it is a direct benefit that goes to the communities surrounding our conservation area,” said Mark Chuwa.

Commander Chuwa urged residents of the zone to continue cooperating with the Government through TAWA in protecting wildlife resources and reporting all criminals involved in illegal poaching activities inside the reserve.

Earlier, while presenting a report on community project implementation in the Maswa North hunting block, Community Outreach Conservation Officer, Lusato Masinde, noted that to ensure communities around the Maswa Reserve benefit from conservation activities, TAWA formed a Community Empowerment Committee. The committee includes TAWA conservationists, the investor, the District Council, and a community representative, with the mandate to plan, implement, and monitor projects based on community proposals.

Masinde said the committee identified a shortage of desks across all six villages, prompting TAWA and Bushman Safari Trackers Ltd to manufacture 150 desks for schools in the respective villages.

Receiving and handing over the desks to the beneficiary schools, Bariadi District Commissioner, Hon. Simon Simalenga, thanked and commended TAWA and Bushman Safari Trackers for supporting Government efforts to address community challenges, especially improving the education sector in Simiyu Region.

He urged the residents to appreciate the importance of continuing to protect wildlife resources in their areas, noting that these resources bring significant benefits, including development and solutions to community challenges.

“Dear citizens, these stakeholders have brought us these desks because God blessed us with wildlife. If we didn’t have wildlife, this event of handing over 150 desks would not be happening today.”

“I sincerely commend TAWA and the investor, Bushman Safari Trackers, for supporting Government efforts to improve education in the country. I urge citizens to continue supporting Government initiatives in protecting our conservation areas,” said Hon. Simalenga.

Halawa Village Chairperson, Boje Kalani, thanked TAWA for easing the burden on residents who would otherwise have had to contribute TSh 12,000 each to address the shortage of desks—an amount many struggle to afford.

Meanwhile, the Manager of the Smart Investment Project (SWICA), Pilot Willness Minja, applauded the Government for involving local investors in the SWICA framework, which aims to strengthen conservation, benefit surrounding communities, and increase Government revenue.