300,000 jobs are under big threat

Sao Hill Forest

More than 300,000 people employed in the paper industry including that of timber and poles in the Southern Highland regions are likely to lose their jobs following an increase of levy for forest plots.

The Secretary General of the Sao Hill Forest Industries Association (SAFIA) ,Anyelwisye Mahenge, told ``TZNEWS`` yesterday that Iringa, Ruvuma, Mbeya and Rukwa regions would be the most affected regions.

Under the present arrangement a plot which was earlier levied at Sh 3million would now be levied at more than Sh 18 million, Mahenge said.

He said the increase would also affect socio-economic development in the regions together with the industries providing employment.

Mahenge emphasized that the increase of the forest levy by more than 500 times would to a great extent frustrate efforts by local stakeholders to eradicate poverty and jeopardize the economic prospects of the regions.

He said in Mufindi District alone, which has 150 paper industries - both large and small - would suffer 180,000 job losses.

``The industries are about to be closed at any time from now for failure of the owners to buy logs for processing,`` he said.

He also said steps by the Ministry for Natural Resources and Tourism to stop transportation of electricity poles and timber has to a great extend disrupted employment in the area.