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While in London for the meeting at Lancaster House in London on illegal wildlife trade, CNN’s journalist Christine Amanpour interviewed President Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete of Tanzania on the question of ivory trade and poaching in Tanzania. According to President Kikwete, the number of elephants in Tanzania has fallen sharply following poaching activities in the early 1970’s and 1980’s and of recent the second wave in 2010. He continued to say that the elephant population had fallen from 350 000 in the 1960’s to 110 000 elephants according to 2009 census. President Kikwete affirmed that despite the controversial operation named OPERATION TOKOMEZA due to human rights’ abuse scandals, the operation will resume to save the poached animals.

Bp Augustine Shao On 25th January, former Usa Seminary students and friends joined the Spiritans of Tanzania Province and current seminarians in the inauguration of an alumni association.  The event was marked by the opening mass, installation of leaders of the association and a reception that took place at the seminary. The Eucharistic celebration was presided by Fr Augustine Shao, the bishop of Zanzibar. He is himself a Spiritan.  In his speech, Bishop Shao reminded the alumni members to give priority to Christian formation, renewal of the members and promotion of Spiritan mission. Thus, members should build a strong spiritual formation that will prepare members to participate in the Spiritan mission. To do so, members will have to learn the history of the Spiritan missions and activities.