By Nneka Nwogwugwu
Youth leaders have called on fellow Tanzanians to be vigilant of investments that target natural resources in the country.
In an event that involved participation of hundreds of young people at the Institute of Finance Management (IFM), in Dar es Salaam, young leaders urged fellow youth to protect and speak out loud on investors who are only interested in extracting and exporting resources.
This includes investors who use corrupt means to gain footage and exploit locals and do not fully comply with the laws.
Speaking to The Citizen, the SISI director, Mr Charles Kisuke said it is also a call for the government to be very smart and firm when allowing for foreign investments, making sure they serve public interests.
He added that such investments should allow local participation especially by offering opportunities to the youth.
“For a long time we have had problems with other bad investors for example some of the Chinese, who in short for a large percentage do not follow the various laws with bad conduct and most of the time their objective is to oppress and harass locals at the same time our resources are being wasted,” he said.
Mr Kisuke said that is why it’s important for Tanzanian youth to take center stage in sustainably managing the country’s natural resources as well as effectively utilising the investment opportunities from the nation’s natural wealth.
He said, apart from having wealth in agriculture, forestry and wildlife, Tanzania is also rich in minerals such as gold, diamond, iron, coal, nickel, tanzanite, uranium and natural gas.
Adding on questionable Chinese investments in the country, another natural resources’ preservation advocate Prince Maker said some of the foreigners have turned Tanzania as a honey pot where they can come and reap benefits while leaving destruction in their wake.