Lembeli appointed co-chair of Jane Goodhall Institute

Moshi. The former chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Land, Natural Resources and the Environment (2010 - 215), Mr James Lembeli, has been appointed the co-chair of the Board of the Jane Goodall Institute (JGI), headquartered in the United States.

During his as committee chairman, Mr Lembeli led a number of investigations on scandals which saw several ministers sacked.

According to information given by the JGI headquarters in the US, Mr Lembeli has been appointed to the position because of his recognised contribution to developing the game reserve sector in Tanzania, Africa and the world in general.

The JGI, which has branches in 140 countries across the world, said Mr Lembeli’s contribution, who is the country board chairman of the JGI, had been of great benefits.

JGI Board chairperson, Beth Stevens, said Mr Lembeli is supposed to attend his first meeting scheduled to be held in Virginia, on  October 29 and 30, this year.

The institute, whose foundation is in Tanzania, was established by a famous world researcher, Dr Jane Goodall, who arrived in Tanzania in 1960 to carry out research on chimpanzees at Gombe in Kigoma Region.

In August this year, the Minister for Natural Resources and Tourism, Prof Jumanne Maghembe, gave a special award of honour Dr Goodal 60-year-research on the lives of chimps.

Dr Goodal research at the Gombe National Park that had become a big attraction to tourists. Besides the chimps, Dr Jane also researches other animals in the park.

Mr Lembeli is also a member of the Board of Trustees of African Parks Network, an international organisation headquartered in Johannesburg, South Africa. He has been serving the board for seven years

When asked for comment on his new appointment, the former MP for Kahama (CCM), said the appointment was not only a great honour to him, but also to Tanzania and to everyone valuing conservation.