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Eviction of Usangu herdsmen is OK, but…
2006-03-14 08:15:45
By Editor
Last week the government ordered herdsmen who have invaded the Usangu Game Reserve at Ihefu in Mbarali District to vacate the area within seven days or face forcible eviction.
The order is in line with the Phase IV Administration of President Jakaya Kikwete’s avowed efforts in the fight against environmental destruction in the country.
Recently, President Kikwete has been quoted as telling officials in the Vice-President’s Office that his government is committed to take steps that may not be popular among some people, but that which would benefit the wananchi in general as well as those of the coming generations.
One of these steps is his directive that livestock keepers should be immediately evicted from Usangu Game Reserve for the good of the environment in the area.
Grazers from far away regions of Shinyanga, Tabora, Mara and Arusha have invaded the Usangu Reserve looking for pasture following prolonged periods of drought in their regions.
One of the major impacts of this invasion is the environmental damage to the reservoir of the Greater Ruaha River that flows into Mtera Dam that in turn supplies much of the electricity into the national grid.
We hail the government’s concern on the environmental destruction brought about by these herdsmen.
Their removal will no doubt improve the reservoir for the Mtera Dam. However, the big question is – where will the invading livestock, estimated at 1.8 million go to?
Has the government ever thought of the extent of the destruction to the land over which this vast number of livestock will pass after being chased away from the Reserve?
And that would come about within a short time, if the government’s directive is carried out to the letter. Have the government authorities considered any remedy for this ’secondary’ destruction to the environment, while trying to save the primary objective?
No doubt it’s a dilemma for the government, even though it is the one to blame.
We say this because 45 years after independence, the government has not succeeded in transforming the livestock keepers from their traditional nomadic ways into modern ones whereby just a few livestock are enough for their own wellbeing and that of the nation in general.
As we support the government’s fight against environmental destruction, we also urge it to seriously start transforming the way of life for our livestock keepers.
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