Tanzania Pastoralists Maasai Of Loliondo Appeal To Religious Leaders To Visit Them Over Land Taken Unlawfully By Authorities

Tanzania Religious leaders called upon to visit Loliondo for fact findings on village lands  said to be taken by  the government unlawfully, and since they are believed to  be powerful and influential to their members, the government may listen to them and cancel its decision.

The call was made this week by Odero Odero, Executive Director, Civic and Legaĺ Aid Organisation (CiLAO), which joined  some Loliondo Division residents as well residents of part of Sale Division, especially Piyaya and Malambo  wards in

Arusha region, Northern of Tanzania, to mark one year since they were evacuated from their village lands by the government on what they say it was unlawful since their villages were registered according to the law, and if the government needed that land there are procedures to be followed,  but it didn’t do that.

“We ask the Religious leaders in the country, Tanzania Episcopal Conference (TEC), The National Muslim Council of Tanzania (BAKWATA) and others, to intervene in this land saga of Loliondo because people are faithful to religious leaders as they are not biased and have been able to set aside personal disagreements in order to preach understanding and forgiveness in their communities, promoting peace and  tolerance “, said Odero Odero.

The organisation told the Press that  it is committed to human rights and called  all peace loving peoples and human rights defenders to meditate together the state of Loliondo, one year since the government intercepted human activities in 14 villages in Pololeti Game Controlled Area, and later to upgrade it to a Game Reserve Area.

CiLAO pointed out that locals were neither given a chance to give out their views  and suggestions through their Village General meetings as required by the Wildlife Conservation Act, 2009, nor the District council.

It further informed that in May 2023, they toured 14 villages  in Loliondo and Sale Divisions and found out there were violations of human rights during the implementation of the process: people who resisted were beaten, community and political leaders who defended community interests were harassed in an aggressive manner, given false murder trials, which were later withdrawn by Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), on ‘nolle prosequi’, after they have spent more than six months in prison and other calamities including confiscation of  livestock on pretex that  they had entered the Game Reserve Area, shortages of food, poverty and unrest such as disappearances of an oldman Orias Oleng’iyo, a Ololosokwan villager and a child from Piyaya- Oleliosokwan.

One of the councillors who was arrested during the operation (name withheld), testified that they were arrested after they were summoned to report at District Commissioner’s office, arrived there at around 4.00 pm and at around12.00 pm in the midnight they were taken to Chekereni police station where they suffered the worst as they were sleeping on the floor and they were served with poor food.

He added that when they were released, on coming back they found there had been much damage on people’s  properties  including  missing livestock believed  to be taken by government officers,and people looked shabby and unhealthy.

Daniel Ngoitiko, Councillor of Soitsambu had to be freed to Kenya, and when he heard his colleagues had been released, he returned back home to find his people were desperate, without knowing  some of his neighbours’ whereabouts as their homesteads were demolished.

“I appeal to our leaders to have mercy on us and excuse us if there is any wrong we have done. We are all brothers and sisters. If we, all of us here perish, what benefits will they get?”, he lamented.

Neema Yelle, member of Kirtalo village council, said during the operation of installing beacons, some women were arrested, leaving behind young children crying day and night. As the remaining villagers were prohibited from  farming, have been depending on local vegetables called ‘mnafu’ and that they are not tired  of praying to their ancestors, and still have a hope that the government will ‘take a heart’ and give back their land.

So, they ask the government to cancel its Announcement of June 2022 which justified their land being converted to  Game Controlled Areas, and also cancel the Announcement of October 2022 which justified their former villages to be Pololet Game  Reserve Area.

This reporter reached Fr, Dr Charles  Kitima, TEC Secretary General over the phone for a comment on Loliondo residents request of religious leaders visiting them, just to tell me he was in a  meeting.

Tanzania Prime Minister, Kassimu Majaliwa told the Parliament June 30, 2022 in Dodoma that the dernacation of 1,500 square kilometers as a game controlled area would not affect human development  in 14 villages around. He insisted there wouldn’t be any village abolished.

He said the government, in cooperation with the residents, had been standardizing livestock pastures, construction of well pits and cattle dips and other infrastructures  including drinking ponds for cattle, 2,500 square kilometers were allocated.

By Mutayoba Arbogast