Maasai Community in Ngorongoro Takes Action to Demand Respect for Their Rights

Today, the Maasai community in Ngorongoro staged a peaceful protest on the Ngorongoro-Serengeti highway to demand respect for their fundamental rights, which they claim have been neglected and violated by the Tanzanian government over the past four years.

According to a statement issued by the community to the media today, August 18, 2024, they have long faced barriers to social services, physical abuse from the government, land rights violations, denial of voter registration, and the requirement to obtain permits for their own land. They resorted to this action after numerous attempts to communicate with authorities went unanswered.

The roadblock, which began at 6 AM, reflects growing frustration due to the lack of progress on issues directly affecting their quality of life. The Maasai have repeatedly raised their voices demanding justice, access to basic services, and protection of their land, but their demands have been ignored.

"We did not block this road voluntarily; we are doing this out of necessity," said one protester by the roadside this morning. "For a long time, our voices have been ignored, and our rights trampled upon," added another protester. "This is our final effort to draw attention to our suffering and demand the respect and dignity we deserve," said a third protester.

The Maasai community is calling for authorities to engage in meaningful dialogue to address their concerns. They also urge the public to understand their situation and support their struggle for justice.

They claim that over the past four years, the Tanzanian government has suspended all social services such as health and education in Ngorongoro as a means of relocating the Maasai. The Maasai continue to stress their commitment to peaceful protests and hope that today's action will lead to strategic changes from the government regarding its repressive measures.

Notable academic, Professor Issa Shivji, commented on the situation through his social media page on X, stating, "The Maasai community in Ngorongoro appears to be controlled by denial of social services and collective punishment for missing names in the permanent voter register. 

This is known as disenfranchisement. The book written by Issa Shivji and Wilbert Kapinga in 1996 first raised the issue that the Maasai in Ngorongoro do not have the right to their own local government or representation at the district administrative level, as they are governed by the Ngorongoro Authority."

Professor Shivji continued, "The situation for the Maasai in Ngorongoro has worsened, and there is a risk of them losing their land and homes in Ngorongoro, land that is their ancestral property and where their ancestors are buried. If we accept the expansion of the reserve being done forcefully and at the cost of appropriating common resources, we will be heading in a bad direction. We must raise our voices. Resources belong to everyone. They should not be privatized under any pretext."

On its part, the Ngorongoro Conservation Area Authority (NCAA) has issued a statement to the public indicating that tourism activities within the Ngorongoro Conservation Area are continuing smoothly despite the protests by some residents today, August 18, 2024.

The statement, signed by Acting Manager of the Public Relations Unit, Hamis Dambaya, clarified that tourists from both within and outside the country are continuing their visits to the attractions within the park, and the government is ensuring their safety.

"Reports of protests through various social media platforms indicate to the world and international communities, media, and international organizations that there are no human rights violations or mistreatment of citizens within the park. The authorities assure all tourists planning to visit Ngorongoro that the government will continue to ensure their safety while they are within the conservation area," the statement read.