Natural Resources and Tourism minister, Shamsa Mwangunga.

Natural Resources and Tourism minister Shamsa Mwangunga had a difficult time in the National Assembly yesterday as she struggled to fend off accusations of gross human rights violations during the eviction of livestock keepers in Loliondo, Arusha region in July this year.

The accusations and counter accusations started when Kaika Ole Telele, MP. Ngorongoro, CCM moved to the podium for a private motion that targeted the government for what he described as unbearable humiliation of innocent civilians by the security organs for the sake of protecting foreigners.

The saga concerned the operations of a professional hunting company known as Otelo Business Corporation, OBC currently occupying a large chunk of a hunting block within the protected game reserve in Loliondo area.

MP Telele demanded clarification from the government on various reports including beating of the residents by the FFU coupled with indiscriminate raping of Maasai girls.

“I would like the minister to explain to this parliament the justification for the application of excessive force to remove livestock keepers from their places where they had lived for many years. The information that the victims were invaders from Kenya with large herds of cattle seeking grazing land (pastures) was totally misleading,” Telele complained.

He further questioned the rationale for the construction of a “Castle” and other structures for the UAE Kingdom in Loliondo, a clear indication of land ownership, installation of UAE mobile communication system, construction of an airstrip along the animal trails and the unusual protection provided to OBC compared to other professional hunters in the country.

“I want the minister to tell us the mechanism employed by the government to monitor hunters in the area to make sure that animals killed are the ones for which a permit had been issued and in the approved numbers. The police set ablaze the people’s food reserves and committed other violent acts. What disciplinary measures have been taken so far against these people ?,” MP Telele asked.

The legislator accused the minister of being inconsistent in her statements alleging that in one of her previous reports she claimed that the area in question had been vacant (meaning without residents) until February 2009 when animal herders moved into the area aggressively.

Responding to the accusations, minister Mwangunga said in the first place the protected area of Loliondo covers 4,000 square kilometers, but the controversial area covers hardly 1,500 square kilometers, saying the rest of the area was open for the residents whose major occupation is livestock keeping. “I personally visited Loliondo on July 15 this year to gather first hand information and managed to interview residents in different villages who admitted to originate from Kenya ,” minister Mwangunga explained.

She said she had copies of official correspondence with the Kenyan authority seeking permission from Tanzania to allow livestock keepers to move to Loliondo for pastures due to severe drought that hit Kenya.

Commenting on installation of UAE communication system in the area, the minister said the arrangement was normal especially in the place where the royal family and national leaders paid frequent visits for hunting vacation and therefore security had to be guaranteed.

“It is not true that a Castle has been built in the area except that a modern structure has been erected on the elevated area to provide excellent view to the King and others and this does not interfere with the animal trail as maintained by Honourable Telele,” Mwangunga said.

As for the alleged application of excessive force during implementation of the eviction exercise, the minister said no woman was raped, no Boma (Maasai houses) were set ablaze and no one was beaten throughout the exercise.

“The ministry formed a mini-probe committee that produced a report complying with the information gathered from the scene. For the last 15 years there has been no friction between the two communities in the area except that the inquiry team learnt of some instigations to violence by NGOs (which she did not name) and others who might have ill intentions,” she explained.

Referring to ecological significance of Loliondo, the minister said it was necessary to have the invaders removed from the areas basically for four reasons: Protection of the water catchment area that supported the Serengeti Buffer Zone, promotion of professional hunting to boost the country’s revenue, protection of the land from overgrazing and avoiding unnecessary friction between the residents and the foreigners.

“Additional efforts have been made to educate the residents on the economic value on proper utilisation of the resources for the benefit of the country and the invaders were required to vacate and return to their places without violence,” she concluded.

Another legislator, Christopher Ole Sendeka, MP, Simanjiro, sprang to his feet and addressed Job Ndugai who was chairing the session saying: “Honourable Chairman, to a large extent the answers by the minister are not true and we have people in front of you (Maasai delegation from Loliondo in the visitor’s gallery) who witnessed and suffered the humiliation. Let this House form a strong probe committee to dig deep into the events in Loliondo to keep the record straight,” MP Sendeka suggested.

Speaking on behalf of fellow Laigenany (Maasai elders), Ole Kanduli said he was one of the victims who had nine of his houses reduced to ashes in addition to severe beatings and injuries sustained.

He expressed dismay at the defence by the minister that no one was beaten during the eviction exercise, saying the area looked like a war zone and people suffered a great deal.

“We lived in the area for many years. Not a single Kenyan was found in the area. Only the natives who suffered at the hands of the law enforcers to please foreigners. This is unacceptable and let the authorities look seriously into the issue and resolve it once and for all,” Ole Kanduli, 64 explained.