News:

The Citizen Newspaper of 13/02/2014 reported about the government of Tanzania being disgusted and annoyed by The Mail on Sunday of Britain which on 08/02/2014 disdained the government of Tanzania as being in the lead in poaching and smuggling of wildlife [The Citizen]. Either, it reported that leaders in the ruling party of Tanzania and government in conjunction with wealthy individuals are among the main culprits in the illegal trade. The same newspaper reported that Tanzania is involved in the killing of 11,000 elephants every year while politicians were accused of turning a blind eye.

 

Comment:

The reports and allegations by the Daily Mail of Britain are not intended to criticize with good intentions to show the evil and rampant poaching. However, from a wider perspective on the matter, it is intended as the rest to be an ideological political pawn game by Britain. The criticism by Britain comes only a few days before commencement of the conference to discuss the problem of poaching and smuggling of wildlife. During the meeting to be held on 12^th and 13^th February 2014, more than 40 world leaders will congregate in London to help the world stop illegal trade in wildlife and protect endangered species from extinction. Among the participants in the meeting is Tanzania. The meeting intends to put measures against illegal wildlife trade worth 6 billion British pounds per year.

Nobody disputes poaching and smuggling of wildlife is a chronic problem in Tanzania to the point that a few months ago, the government was forced to initiate a special operation to counter these acts. This operation was later embroiled in a scandal that forced several Ministers to resign. As an example, elephants in the National Parks of Selous and Mikumi have reduced by 43% within three years. Either, in 1989 and 2010, a third of all elephant tusks recovered in the whole world came from Tanzania.

While Britain is criticizing Tanzania concerning the issue of poaching and smuggling of wildlife, America on the other side uses the issue to increase its influence in Tanzania. America signed a special agreement with Tanzania to help it in fighting the vice. [Photography4life]

Therefore, it can be seen that major Capitalist states use the same issue for their own interests. America uses it to cement itself in Tanzania especially in military matters under the guise of fighting poaching and smuggling of wildlife. Britain on its part criticizes Tanzania on the issue because of jealousy and paranoia because Tanzania like other East African countries used to be a British fortress which has been captured by America. Therefore, this criticism and other similar ones by Britain are meant to criticize the Tanzanian master which is America which has failed to look after the country responsibly. Britain feels that it needs to return to its natural master position in this country.

This is how Capitalist countries are skillful in assessing every issue that happens in our countries so as to consolidate their influence in young countries. Today, the world needs a strong Khilafah "Caliphate" state which is the only one that will criticize intellectually and physically these Capitalist states like America and Britain so as to liberate the world from the intrigues of these states and their evil Capitalist ideology

 

Written for the Central Media Office of Hizb ut Tahrir by

Masoud Msellem

Deputy Media Representative of Hizb ut Tahrir in East Africa