Tanzania launches clean-up campaign on Mount Kilimanjaro

Tanzanian authorities on Thursday launched a national wide special campaign to clean up Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest mountain in Africa which attracts more than 50,000 tourists annually.

The campaign dubbed 'leave the mountain clean, conserve environment so that they can protect you' came at the time when the Africa's roof is overwhelmed with a number of challenges such as land degradation, non availability of good water, loss of biodiversity, frequent forest fires and pollution.

Speaking at the official launch of the campaign, Kilimanjaro Regional Commissioner, Said Meck Sadick said the mountain is an important cornerstone when it comes to Tanzania's tourism industry.

The mountain, which is a biosphere reserve and a world heritage site, generates nearly 30 million U.S. dollars income annually and employs more than 300,000 people.

"We want this campaign to be successful and sensitize climbers to respect and conserve the environment in the Kilimanjaro National Park," the regional chief said, urging tour operators to take responsibilities of conserving environment of the park, which is the lifeline for many people.

Sadick described Mount Kilimanjaro as one of the national values, vowing to take stern measures against illegal loggers in the park.

Director General of the Tanzania National Park Allan Kijazi said the campaign is meant to make Mount Kilimanjaro remain as it is and continues to lure more tourists.

According to Kijazi, the Kilimanjaro National Park leads the 16 national parks in terms of revenue collection, adding that tourism sector contributes 25 percent of the country's foreign exchange and 17 percent of the national GDP.

"So, we must ensure that these tourism destinations are protected for the benefit of the country and the world at large."

The seven-day clean-up campaign is to involve more than 100 tourism stakeholders. Cleaners will be working on all the entrance and exit gates of Mount Kilimanjaro. Endit