By Hon. Ambassador Khamisi Kagasheki, Minister for Natural Resources and Tourism
June 21, 2012, Dar es Salaam
On 20th June 2012, around 11pm, an incident happened where armed
bandits raided a tourist camp in the Wildlife Management Area of Ikoma
in Rubanda village, in the outskirts of Serengeti National Park. In
the event, one of the foreign tourists and a Tanzanian were killed.
The deceased tourist is Mr. Eric Brekelmans, a native of the
Netherlands. A Tanzanian who was killed is Mr. Renatus Benard, an
Assistant Manager of the camp.
The raided camp is known as Moivaro owned by the Moivaro Coffee Lodge.
The deceased tourist was a client of the Leopard Tours Company of
Arusha. During the event the camp had forty guests who were robbed of
their possessions and travel documents.
Together, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism, Tanzania
National Parks Authority, and the companies of Leopard Tours and
Moivaro Coffee Lodge have taken steps to comfort the affected
individuals, including the wife of the deceased, Mrs. Annelnes
Brekelmans. Procedures for transporting the body of the deceased to
Arusha today on June 21, 2012 have been completed. Other plans
regarding funeral are in progress.
Police and Wardens of the Department of Wildlife and TANAPA, have
jointly strengthened security in the tourist areas, and a search has
begun to seek the bandits. The Minister of Natural Resources and
Tourism, Hon. Khamis Kagasheki and Minister of Home Affairs, Hon.
Nchimbi have already gone to the scene of the incident using the
TANAPA aircraft. Similarly, the Assistant Commissioner of Police who
is in charge of tourism affairs, Mr. Kitalike has gone to the scene by
the Police helicopter to enhance security operations and
investigations.
The Ministry conveys its condolences. We would like to take this
opportunity to assure visitors that every effort is taken to ensure
their safety is in place, along with comfort when they are in the
country.