WE WILL DIE FOR OUR ANCESTRAL LAND ,SAY LOLIONDO MAASAI

A pile of animal hides used as sleeping pads are the only few items that can be spotted around Arash, Loosoito and Maaaloni villages in Ngorongoro District following the recent eviction  that saw bomas burnt to ashes.

Homeless families living under the tree

From a distance one can only see a few sacks, sleeping mats and water buckets hanging from tree branches as you approach the area that has been dotted with ashes

Residents say the area is too moist to put their few belongings on ground and the condition gives children sleepless nights.

Though young children looked un- disturbed by the situation, one could paint a picture of how they endure the extremely cold Ngorongoro weather during the night.

Sleeping under tree or maybe on tall tree branches for elders as a way to protect their families from wild animals, could be the only imagination.

When this reporter visited the villages recently he found the hungry children, women and old men striving to meet their ends.

“We have no food, blankets, cooking utensils, cloths. Everything was burnt. The government has burned our homes, everything we owned and abandoned us” William Seyelek, a traditional Masaai elder said.

Seyelek said they have vowed not to leave their land despite the government directives because, the area belongs to them.

“We belong here, our forefathers lived and were buried here. We cannot forsake them this time that they are no longer with us. We will fight if not for us but for their sake” he said.

He said they will fight for their rights and set a history for their generation because their relocation from Serengeti National Park to the area was an agreement between them and the British government way back during colonialism.

 Some villagers who talked to The Guardian on Sunday said they live in horrible conditions especially after the brutal acts were carried out during the rainy seasons.

A Maaaloni villager who preferred anonymous said she has been left homeless with a family of eight. “My children cannot sleep at night and always complain of coldness because we do not have even bed sheets let alone blankets” she said.

The conflict area saw Tanzanian National Parks security rangers burning Masaai people’s bomas on February 12 this year has left more than three thousand residents homeless has been in dispute for over20 years.

  Government stand:

Ngorongoro District commissioner, Elias Wawa Lali earlier condemned the burning of Maasai homes and warned that the actions would escalate violence in the area. 

However, Arusha Regional Commissioner (RC)  Daudi Ntibenda who visited the Area on Thursday this week maintained that Maasai community have to vacate the area before the full wrath of the state fall on them.

 “I give you two more weeks to vacate the area and those who disobey the order will be forcefully evicted “the RC reportedly said.

However in a meeting with Masaai community at Imolelian area, the victims were not given a chance to speak or their fate so to say. 

Ntibenda instead told the community to vacate the area, claiming they were posing a threat to the famous Serengeti national park and the wildebeests’ ecosystem migration. He also accused the media for a biased coverage.

 Human rights activists:

A human rights defender from Tanzania Pastoralist community forum Joseph Parsambei has condemned the government for its actions its own citizens appeal for high consideration on the fate of the affected families.

He said such an act was against human rights, as the government has disregarded victims loses and denied assistance.

“We need to provide food for the starving population - especially children. Livestock have been removed from this area, this means children lack milk and from the look of things they are in terrible suffering,” he said.

Background 

Earlier the Minister for Natural Resources and Tourism Lazaro Nyalandu on different occasions explained to the local communities the value of the area for biodiversity conservation both nationally and internationally.  

He said the area was important for the nation and invited Masaai communities to be fully involved in managing it for a shared benefit.

 However, the Minister’s proposal was rejected by the community who insisted that the land belonged solely to them and they do not tolerate national or international interference.

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SERENGETI NATIONAL PARK WARDENS RAZE 114 MAASAI BOMAS ,HUNDREDS STRANDED

I  cant believe what Iam seeing 'Oleperes from Loosoito Village told the media showing his boma which has been torched to ashes

We have no homes Maasai women told journos





MORE than three thousand residents of Arash, Loosoito and Maaaloni   villages in Ngorongoro District have been left homeless after the Serengeti National Park security rangers burned 114 Maasai bomas leaving them without                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 necessary supplies.

Journalists visiting the area yesterday witnessed groups of women and children moaning and showing fear as fully armed park rangers continued burning other bomas in nearby villages.

Narrating the ordeal to the press, traditional elders said burning of their homes is outrageous, irreparable losses in their lives, and the government should intervene immediately to save the situation. 

 “This is our homeland. Our fathers were placed here after they were evicted from Serengeti in an agreement way back in 1959 between the colonial government and the community during the establishment of the Serengeti National Park. We have lost almost everything, ’’said Peter Meleton.

Meleton said the agreement stipulated clearly that the Maasai will not face any other evictions from their land and wondered why it is happening now.
 He blamed the park management for conducting the operation and treating common harmless citizens as criminals.

 “Those who showed signs of protest were forced to get out of their houses by force and at times pointing a gun and threatened to be killed if they refused to obey orders,” he elaborated.

 Another elder, Kantuli Lekakin said the exercise has been going on as a military operation, as we heard a lot of gunfire in the village for several hours yesterday.

Traditional leaders from three villages maintained that even though their homes have been turned into ashes, they will not leave the area because it is their heritage.

 “We will not leave, even by an inch. We are willing to die for our land; our community has lived in oppression, injustice and has continued to be poor. But enough is enough, no quitting,” insisted Kantuli.

 He said they are 5 to 10km away from the park border; however park authorities claim the villagers are living one kilometer into the park area.

For his part William Sayelek said his boma was torched with the entire food produce inside, and now his children have nothing to eat.

 “The operation was brutal. They sometimes shot into the air causing great confusion in the whole village. We need food, temporary shelters and medical services to survive,” he stated. 

Families are now living under trees and children have started getting sick due to cold weather, the villager noted.

Speaking on behalf of women, Noorki Saruni, a resident of Arash,   said women and children are starving and facing health complications resulting from food shortages.

 "I lost seventy kilograms of maize, milk and bread dough. The situation is getting worse every minute. Our government should help us,” she said. 

According to the Park rangers who could not avail their names to the media for fear of being victimised, the Serengeti National Park management is conducting the operation to remove villagers who have put permanent settlements near the border of the park.

However the Maasai were quick to refute the claims saying this is a government move to allocate their ancestral land to the Arab Emirate royal family for hunting.  

Serengeti chief park warden William Mwakilema told The Guardian on Sunday in brief responses by phone that the burned bomas were inside the Serengeti National Park.

“We have documentary evidence on what we did.  We are protecting the park; these pastoralists have been bringing large group of livestock to graze inside the park. We are clearing them out,” the warden affirmed

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KENYA BAN TANZANIA TOURIST VEHICLES TO ENTER ITS AIRPORTS AND NATIONAL PARKS

 Tourist vans registered in Tanzania will not be allowed into Kenya’s airport, airstrips and national parks and reserves starting Friday midnight.

Tourism Cabinet Secretary Phyllis Kandie says Kenya has taken the move to ensure fair play in the sector since Kenya tour vans have not been allowed in Tanzania parks and airports for a long period.

“From today February 6, 2015, at midnight, Tanzania registered tour vans will not be allowed to pick, drop or exchange passengers at all tourism sites, airstrips and airports, including Jomo Kenyatta International Airports, JKIA,” Kandie announced during a media briefing.

On December 22 last year, Kenyan authorities put the ban on Tanzanian-registered vehicles from dropping off or picking up passengers at JKIA and other airports and tourism sites.

ut Tanzania requested for negotiations with Kenya to have the ban lifted for a period of three weeks.

However Kandie says there has been no dialogue between the two countries for within the given period pushing Kenya to get back to the full implementation of a 1985 bilateral agreement.

The agreement does not allow tour vans to access parks and airports in either of the countries and which Kenya has not been fully implementing unlike Tanzania.

“The Minister of Tourism and Natural Resources (Lazaro Nyalandu), of the United Republic of Tanzania came to Kenya and requested for a three-week window for talks. Those three weeks have now expired without Tanzania counterparts convening the meeting for negotiations. We have therefore resolved to move forward with the full implementation of the bilateral agreement,” the CS said.

However, Kandie however says in the spirit of East Africa integration, Tanzania vans will be allowed to drop and exchange tourists in all the towns in Kenya despite Kenya vans having limited entry in Tanzania.

Kenyan vans will continue to drop their tourists in Tanga, Moshi, Arusha and Musoma.

In March last year the two East African States reverted to their 1985 bilateral agreement as an interim measure to resolve their differences in efforts to protect the multi-million-dollar tourism industry.

It is estimated that nearly 40 percent of about one million tourists visiting Tanzania annually pass through JKIA before crossing overland into the Tanzania national parks.

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TANZANIAN MINISTER OF ENERGY &MINERALS RESIGNS OVER ESCROW SCANDAL

Tanzanian Minister for Energy and Minerals Sospeter Muhongo resigned from his post on Saturday over the fraudulent transfer of some $120 million of public funds to a private energy firm in a scandal known locally as the "Tegeta Escrow Account."

"I'm stepping down from my ministerial post right from today," Muhongo said in a statement.

"Before reaching the decision, I have contacted President Jakaya Kikwete on this issue and he agreed," he added.

Muhongo was one of four government officials, who the parliament asked President Kikwete to sack from their post over the scandal.

"I have done so much to my country. I'm wondering today people are looking [to me] as a thief who took billions of public money from escrow account," Muhongo told The Anadolu Agency.

"They have even forgotten that I was not in the position when the escrow account agreement was signed. But today people consider me as a thief because of something which came to implantation when I was not there in the office," he said.

Muhongo, a nominated member of parliament who was a lecturer to the University of Dar es Salaam before he was appointed a minister, insisted that he had no role in the escrow scandal.

"I still believe my hands are clean on escrow account scandal," he said.

Controversy gripped Tanzania for months after the Public Account Committee released a report accusing senior government officials of having fraudulently authorized the disbursement of at least $122 million of public funds from an escrow account to a private company.

It has since been shown that certain officials benefited from the escrow account money, receiving millions of dollars from James Rugemalila, a shareholder in the Independent Power Tanzania Limited company.

The National Assembly has asked President Kikwete to sack four top government officials with ties to the scandal: Muhongo, Attorney-General Frederick Werema; Energy and Minerals Permanent Secretary Eliachim Maswi; and Minister of Land, Housing and Human Settlement Anna Tibaijuka.

Since then, Werema has voluntarily resigned, while Kikwete sacked Tibaijuka after confirming that over $1.2 million from Rugemalila had been deposited into her personal bank account. Maswi, for his part, has been suspended from his post.

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SOUTH SUDAN'S FRACTRURED SPLM PARTY REUNITE, PEACE AGREEMENT SIGNED IN ARUSHA TANZANIA

Intense efforts spearheaded by regional leaders – which saw the Arusha meeting get into late night hours – marks a turning point in the bloody conflict.
The signing ceremony at Ngurdoto Hotel in Arusha was witnessed by an array of regional leaders including host President Jakaya Kikwete, President Uhuru Kenyatta (Kenya), President Yoweri Museveni (Uganda), and South African Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa.
South Sudan President Salva Kiir, former vice President Riek Machar and Mr. Deng Alor Kuol signed the historic agreement.
The agreement which was signed during the SPLM Intra-Party Dialogue Summit puts the young African nation back on the path of peace and development.
Among the issues agreed by both parties is the restoration of peace and stability in South Sudan and, and the demand for SPLM leadership to make a public apology to the people of Sudan for all the atrocities.
Under the signed agreement, the SPLM party leadership is required to reform and transform the political party by formulating and embracing policies that allow the culture of tolerance and ideals of democracy to take root.
SPLM leadership is also urged to formulate and implement policies that will abolish tribalism, sectarianism and militarism in political life and open up space for achieving a political environment that promotes genuine political pluralism.
The agreement calls on those who may have participated in atrocities during the conflict not to be allowed to hold public offices in South Sudan.
The SPLM leaders agreed to implement and comply with all provisions of the cessation of hostilities and use the Arusha Intra-Party Dialogue and IGAD mediation process in Addis Ababa to expedite the conclusion of the peace agreement in order to end the war.
The South Sudan political party leadership is also required to develop and implement a comprehensive programme for national unity, peace, reconciliation, healing and to promote harmony amongst the people of South Sudan.
The three factional SPLM groups are demanded to embrace reunification and reconciliation of the party leadership and membership.
The SPLM general secretariat shall be structured and reorganized in order to streamline its offices and functions to ensure efficiency and effectiveness benefiting from experiences of sisterly parties and Liberation Movements.
The agreement also demands that the National Liberation Council (NLC) shall revisit and review the contentious provisions, in the draft SPLM constitution to ensure internal democracy within party structures, before its presentation to the National Convention.
Other recommendations of the agreement include a requirement for the Political Bureau to develop a party leadership code of ethics and disciplinary procedures to be applied and upheld by all members irrespective of their positions.
In the agreement the term-limit for the SPLM national and state chairpersons of the party shall be two terms of 5 years each only.
The reunified SPLM shall abide by the terms and spirit of the IGAD Peace Agreement and that it recognizes the need for the establishment of a transitional government in which all SPLM groups and other political parties shall participate proportionally so as to end the war and establish sustainable peace
- See more at: http://www.the-star.co.ke/news/south-sudan-rivals-sign-peace-deal-arusha#sthash.bPQkcJg7.dpuf

Intense efforts spearheaded by regional leaders – which saw the Arusha meeting get into late night hours – marks a turning point in the bloody conflict.
The signing ceremony at Ngurdoto Hotel in Arusha was witnessed by an array of regional leaders including host President Jakaya Kikwete, President Uhuru Kenyatta (Kenya), President Yoweri Museveni (Uganda), and South African Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa.
South Sudan President Salva Kiir, former vice President Riek Machar and Mr. Deng Alor Kuol signed the historic agreement.
The agreement which was signed during the SPLM Intra-Party Dialogue Summit puts the young African nation back on the path of peace and development.
Among the issues agreed by both parties is the restoration of peace and stability in South Sudan and, and the demand for SPLM leadership to make a public apology to the people of Sudan for all the atrocities.
Under the signed agreement, the SPLM party leadership is required to reform and transform the political party by formulating and embracing policies that allow the culture of tolerance and ideals of democracy to take root.
SPLM leadership is also urged to formulate and implement policies that will abolish tribalism, sectarianism and militarism in political life and open up space for achieving a political environment that promotes genuine political pluralism.
The agreement calls on those who may have participated in atrocities during the conflict not to be allowed to hold public offices in South Sudan.
The SPLM leaders agreed to implement and comply with all provisions of the cessation of hostilities and use the Arusha Intra-Party Dialogue and IGAD mediation process in Addis Ababa to expedite the conclusion of the peace agreement in order to end the war.
The South Sudan political party leadership is also required to develop and implement a comprehensive programme for national unity, peace, reconciliation, healing and to promote harmony amongst the people of South Sudan.
The three factional SPLM groups are demanded to embrace reunification and reconciliation of the party leadership and membership.
The SPLM general secretariat shall be structured and reorganized in order to streamline its offices and functions to ensure efficiency and effectiveness benefiting from experiences of sisterly parties and Liberation Movements.
The agreement also demands that the National Liberation Council (NLC) shall revisit and review the contentious provisions, in the draft SPLM constitution to ensure internal democracy within party structures, before its presentation to the National Convention.
Other recommendations of the agreement include a requirement for the Political Bureau to develop a party leadership code of ethics and disciplinary procedures to be applied and upheld by all members irrespective of their positions.
In the agreement the term-limit for the SPLM national and state chairpersons of the party shall be two terms of 5 years each only.
The reunified SPLM shall abide by the terms and spirit of the IGAD Peace Agreement and that it recognizes the need for the establishment of a transitional government in which all SPLM groups and other political parties shall participate proportionally so as to end the war and establish sustainable peace
- See more at: http://www.the-star.co.ke/news/south-sudan-rivals-sign-peace-deal-arusha#sthash.bPQkcJg7.dpuf

Different factions of South Sudan's SPLM party have signed  an agreement in Arusha, Tanzania  today  to reunite the party and put South Sudan back on the path of peace and development.

The signing was witnessed by Five head of state from Kenya, Repulic of South Africa, Uganda and the host Tanzania

President Salava Kiir, Riek Machar and former SPLM secretary general Pagan Amum, who is the leader of a group of politicians jailed in December 2013 and accused of plotting to oust the president, signed the peace agreement which Tanzania is a guarantor.

Among the issues agreed by both parties is to restore peace and stability in South Sudan,

SPLM leadership to make a public apology to the people of Sudan to all what happened and SPLM  leadership to formulate and implement policies that will abolish tribalism,sectarianism and militarism.

They also agreed that all the people who have participated in atrocities of the war should not  be given a chance to hold  any  public office in South Sudan;

Intense efforts spearheaded by regional leaders – which saw the Arusha meeting get into late night hours – marks a turning point in the bloody conflict.

The signing ceremony at Ngurdoto Hotel in Arusha was witnessed by an array of regional leaders including host President Jakaya Kikwete, President Uhuru Kenyatta (Kenya), President Yoweri Museveni (Uganda), and South African Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa.

South Sudan President Salva Kiir, former vice President Riek Machar and Mr. Deng Alor Kuol signed the historic agreement.

The agreement which was signed during the SPLM Intra-Party Dialogue Summit puts the young African nation back on the path of peace and development.

Among the issues agreed by both parties is the restoration of peace and stability in South Sudan and, and the demand for SPLM leadership to make a public apology to the people of Sudan for all the atrocities.

Under the signed agreement, the SPLM party leadership is required to reform and transform the political party by formulating and embracing policies that allow the culture of tolerance and ideals of democracy to take root.

SPLM leadership is also urged to formulate and implement policies that will abolish tribalism, sectarianism and militarism in political life and open up space for achieving a political environment that promotes genuine political pluralism.

The agreement calls on those who may have participated in atrocities during the conflict not to be allowed to hold public offices in South Sudan.

The SPLM leaders agreed to implement and comply with all provisions of the cessation of hostilities and use the Arusha Intra-Party Dialogue and IGAD mediation process in Addis Ababa to expedite the conclusion of the peace agreement in order to end the war.

The South Sudan political party leadership is also required to develop and implement a comprehensive programme for national unity, peace, reconciliation, healing and to promote harmony amongst the people of South Sudan.

The three factional SPLM groups are demanded to embrace reunification and reconciliation of the party leadership and membership.

The SPLM general secretariat shall be structured and reorganized in order to streamline its offices and functions to ensure efficiency and effectiveness benefiting from experiences of sisterly parties and Liberation Movements.

The agreement also demands that the National Liberation Council (NLC) shall revisit and review the contentious provisions, in the draft SPLM constitution to ensure internal democracy within party structures, before its presentation to the National Convention.

Other recommendations of the agreement include a requirement for the Political Bureau to develop a party leadership code of ethics and disciplinary procedures to be applied and upheld by all members irrespective of their positions.

In the agreement the term-limit for the SPLM national and state chairpersons of the party shall be two terms of 5 years each only.

The reunified SPLM shall abide by the terms and spirit of the IGAD Peace Agreement and that it recognizes the need for the establishment of a transitional government in which all SPLM groups and other political parties shall participate proportionally so as to end the war and establish sustainable peace

President Uhuru Kenyatta witnesses the signing of the SPLM Reunification Agreement between South Sudan President Salva Kiir, Dr. Riek Machar and Mr. Deng Alor Kuol which was overseen by Tanzania's President Jakaya Kikwete in Arusha, Tanzania. Also present is Uganda's President Yoweri Museven - See more at: http://www.the-star.co.ke/news/south-sudan-rivals-sign-peace-deal-arusha#sthash.bPQkcJg7.dpuf

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KENYA ALLOWS TANZANIA VEHICLES INTO JKIA ,AFTER 26 DAYS BAN

TANZANIA Vehicles are now allowed  to enter  to  Jomo Kenyata

                               
                                    Cabinet secretary  EAC affairs ,Commerce and  Tourism Kenya  Phyllis       Kandie               Lazaro  Nyalandu  Minister  of Tourism & Natural Resources Tanzania

International Airport (JKIA) to pick and drop tourists after twenty  six days ban by Kenya government

The move was seen by  analysts as a retaliation  of  Tanzania rejection  to allow Kenyan vehicles  with tourists  to  get to its National Parks.

The ban reportedly frustrated hundreds of tourists visiting the country, a move which was seen as an act that was putting the two neighboring countries into a dispute   that was likely to jeopardize the integration of the East African Community.

The decision was reached  in Nairobi on Thursday  after  several hours talks between the Cabinet Secretary for East African Affairs, Commerce and tourism for Kenya Phyllis Kandie and Tanzanian minister of tourism and Natural Resources Lazaro Nyalandu.

In a joint press conference Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary told reporters that vehicle from Tanzania will now be allowed to enter to JKIA to pick and drop guests and the dispute will be solved within 21 days.

She said that the bilateral meeting will be held in Arusha Tanzania and it will involve Ministerial principal Secretaries and other professionals in the ministries from both countries.

Kandie said the last meeting will bring together   the ministers and later  and eventually remove confusions unfolding the tourism sector between the two neighboring countries.

Kandie insisted that the act of Kenya to prohibit vehicles from Tanzania to enter to JKIA was the implementation of a collective agreement between Kenya and Tanzania in a meeting held last year.

“Vehicle from Tanzania can now enter to the airport as usual and this problem will be sorted out once and for all in our scheduled meeting within 21 days. “She said

She went further to say that the issue on dispute was to do with Kenya domestic law on  transfer of  tourists from Nairobi  the airport and not buses from Tanzania to enter  JKIA .

"This  is a minor  issue its solution will be made within three weeks from today , we will involve the private sector at large and other players within the  tourism industry to find a lasting solution issues within the tourism sectore in the Region " said Kandie .

She noted that there is a confusion but  it was easy if  our counterparts would have followed our countries transport regulation  by acquiring licenses from the relevant authorities in Kenya or enter into partnership with a local  tour operator and do business smoothly.

On his part, the minister of tourism and natural resources of Tanzania Lazaro Nyalandu  said  the Kenyan government shouldn’t  have prohibited   vehicles entering to the airport because the countries have historical ties.

" Our neighboring Kenya have serious relationships with us , I am glad for them to accept that vehicle from my country are  to allowed  to enter the airport and  do  business as usual, I and my counterpart  will meet and hold talks to resolve all arising differences "Said Nyalandu .

On December 22 last year the government of Kenya barred vehicles with registration numbers from Tanzania to enter into JKIA and caused a lot of embarrassment to travelers and loses in transport business from Northern Tanzania Regions.

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