Africa-Press – Tanzania. OVER 3,000 Maasai herders living in Mazoka village, Kilosa district, Morogoro region have appealed to President Samia Suluhu Hassan to resolve the conflict with an investor in the area who had demolished their settlements including cattle pens.
Speaking on behalf of fellow herders at a meeting convened in the village, Rev Ole Loya Kiretu of Karivali church said the area was originally a ranch and was given to them for grazing and settlements and many have built permanent houses including the church.
“CCM delegation from Kilosa district came here and told us we can now settle here permanently and we started building houses as well as a school and a church, but we are surprised now to see our houses being demolished, we appeal to President Samia to intervene,” he said.
Rev Kiretu said the conflict began two years ago after the investor who is known by one name of Kalamage arrived in the area claiming he wanted to invest and they agreed and erected boundaries, “but recently he invaded our areas and started demolishing our settlements.
For his part, the chairman for the herders, Moringe Mameo said the act by the investor amounts to gross injustice as they were given the area to build permanent settlements.
“If the government has decided to give the area to the investor, then they have to find for us another area to live in, we do not like conflicts, we are ready to move so long as we are given another grazing area,” he added.
Teddy Oroshoro, one Maasai herder said, so far they do not know what to do or where to go due to the investor’s demolishing 10 cattle pens and some of their houses on claims that the area legally belongs to him.
For his part, Goodluck Zakayo, said the area was given to them since on November 8, 2019 by the then Minister for Lands, Housing and Human Settlements Development William Lukuvi who directed the government in Kilosa district to apportion 3,000 acres from the investor’s area to be given to the herders as their permanent settlements.
Speaking by phone in regard to the complaints, the investor known only by one name Kalamage said as for now he cannot discuss the issue because its implementation is being done by district officials who are the right people to ask them about the matter.
Kilosa district executive director, Kisena Mabuba said Mazoki area has been invaded by herders but it is legally owned by investor Kalamage hence the invading herders have to move out.
“The preceding district commissioner, Majjid Mwanga also went to the area and held talks with herders to move out, but now we have new DC who has also said the area belongs to the investor hence the herders have to move out,” he said.
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