LOLIONDO CONFLICTS TAKE NEW TWIST

A total of 12 human rights defending groups and organizations have released a joint report on their recent observations regarding long-standing conflicts in the Loliondo Division of Ngorongoro District. They called for a national dialogue to address the issue.

“There is the need to organise a national forum and bring together all stakeholders of land and wildlife conservation in order to discuss and address the key challenges facing communities particularly pastoralist living near conserved areas,” reads part of the Human Rights Defenders Coalition report.

The Human Right Defenders have also suggested efforts for community reconciliation initiatives through bringing together antagonist parties to discuss their differences and find a common solution.  Also to conduct community awareness programs on matters relating to protection of land and advocacy strategies.
Included in their joint recommendations the coalition wanted Civil Society Organizations to start conducting media and press events to address the land challenges in Loliondo and amplify voices against human rights violation.

The Coalition which recently visited Loliondo villages interviewing local villagers, government officials and the Police, also called for the empowerment of Non-Government Organizations, Community Based Organizations and Civil Society Organizations in Loliondo area in order to be able to advocate for land rights and acquiring capacity to conduct community reconciliation.

They also want  development of  a common strategy against Loliondo land grabbing by profit oriented institutions as well as investors in addition to creating community reconciliation and a network of Tanzanian and Kenyan NGOS in order to solve the existing socio-economic challenges.

The tension existing currently in Loliondo refers to two major operations conducted by the government relating to removing Kenya's Livestock illegally in Tanzania which also led to environmental degradation and overgrazing.
Also the operation conducted against illegal immigrant in Loliondo. This operation targeted  Kenyans who brought livestock in the country and the long-time settlers called Walowezi. This brought the tension which would likely disturb peace and harmony in the society.
 The coalition includes, Action Aid Tanzania, THRDC, PINGOs Forum, Association for Law and Advocacy for Pastoralists (ALAPA), Pastoral Women's Council of Tanzania (PWC), OXFAM, SIKIKA-Tanzania, Tanzania Pastoralist and Hunter-Gatherer Organization (TAPHGO) and the Arusha Non-Government Organization Network (ANGONET).

Others are HAKIMADINI, Manyara Regional Civil Society Network (MACs-NET), TGNP, Southern Africa Human Rights NGO-Network (SAHRINGON) Tanzania Chapter, Ngorongoro NGO Network (NGONET), Ujamaa Community Resource Team (UCRT), Pastoralist Livelihoods Programme (PALISEP) and Tanzania Pastoralists Community Forum (TPCF).