THE private sector in Tanzania has been urged to invest in clean development mechanism (CDM) projects to increase income as well as assist in mitigating the impacts of climate change.
The acting Executive Director of the Tanzania Investment Centre (TIC), Raymond Mbilinyi,  made the call when officiating at a meeting to promote investments in CDM held in Dar es Salaam at the weekend.

"As a result of climate change taking place globally it is high time that the private sector invested in CDM in order to take part in efforts geared towards reducing green house gases,” he said.

He noted that due to the impacts of climate change worldwide, the TIC has embarked on a strategy to promote investments on CDM among the private sector sectors.

"A lot of countries have been affected by climate change including Tanzania…The prolonged droughts in Manyara Region which has led to death of livestock (due to lack of pasture and water) is among such impacts of climate change. We should therefore devise mechanism to mitigate the impacts,” he said.

He noted that Tanzania is already boasting of a big CDM project which is the first in Africa to reach high level of implementation. The project in question is the Mtoni dumpsite in Dar es Salaam which he said its execution on initial stage was in good progress awaiting funding for implementation.

On his part, Environment Chief Executive Officer in the Vice-President's Office, Kanizio Manyika was well prepared ahead of the Copenhagen summit on climate change.

"The Copenhagen summit has come at the right time and we're well prepared to state our stand by voicing concerns of Africa particularly on opportunities which are available and can bring development to the people,” he said.

An environment researcher working for United Nations Development Programme (UNEP), Dr. Todd Ngara commended Tanzania for being the first country to implement a CDM project in Africa.

Dr Ngara said the Mtoni Dumpsite CDM project was an indication of how Africa is taking efforts to mitigate the effects of climate change.

The researcher urged the government to fast-track the project in order to assist the Tanzania National Electric Supply Company (TANESCO) solve power shortages in the country.