Climate change is now slowly but surely taking drastic toll on the lives of most Tanzanians.
It has been reported that over 50 percent of all the medicinal drugs being imported into the country seem to be procured for treating emerging diseases resulting from effects of global warming and climate change.
That was revealed in Arusha by the Deputy Minister of Finance, Hamad Chande.
Speaking during the conference on International Transparency and Accountability, Deputy Finance Minister, Chande said Tanzania is incurring expenses to import consignment of such medication.
The International Transparency and Accountability (ITAC) 2023 Conference runs under the theme of ‘Strengthening Accountability for Climate Action.’
“Effects of climate change go beyond environmental disasters and hostile weather, they are now taking a toll on people’s health and costing the country huge expenses in treatment costs,” pointed out the Deputy Minister.
Ludovick Utoh is the Director of Wajibu Institute of Public Accountability, which organized the conference who said Tanzania’s contribution to greenhouse gases is less than 1 percent, but still the country suffers the consequences of global warming and climate change.
He said even the cases of livestock and wildlife perishing in Northern Tanzania, especially Longido District; it was all the result of climate change, which happens to be the long-term alteration in Earth’s climate and weather patterns.
The extent of land degradation in Tanzania has increased from 42 percent in 1980 to over 50 percent by the year 2012 and counting.
Utoh who also happens to be the former CAG said the entire World and Africa in particular is currently experiencing severe weather extremes and that countries executing climate change programs must ensure accountability of related funds.
“We cannot deal with the consequences, which means the only option for Tanzania and other African countries is taking preventive measures and these require huge funds that also must be properly accounted for,” said Utoh.
Since 2016, the Wajibu Institute of Public Accountability has been organizing International Conferences on Transparency and Accountability.
The 2023 Conference in Arusha is being attended by, among other countries, Kenya, Nigeria, Zambia, Malawi, Zimbabwe, and South-Africa.
One of the participants, Dr Chaniliho Martin, the lecturer at the Arusha University said when it comes to climate change, it has always been just talks, thus there is the need for countries to start taking actions.
The annual conferences have been used as a way of bringing together national and international experts to exchange experiences and best practices on better management and utilization of public resources.
This year, ITAC 2023 will focus on strengthening accountability for climate action.
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