Staff Correspondent

The Globe and Mail’s accusations that Tanzania government is committing “illegal act of shocking brutality” against Maasai community living in Loliondo Game Controlled Area are baseless and unjust allegations aimed at distorting government’s effortd to conserve its natural resources.

Since June 10, foreign anti-conservation activists have been using twisted methods to distort conservation projects taking place in the area in an attempt to make the international community believe that projects have not complied with international laws and they are shrouded by “crimes against humanity”.

Regarding The Globe and Mail’s statement that the Tanzania authorities are “targeting Maasai leaders with with accusations of murder and illegal immigration as the government intensifies its campaign to demarcate the reserve and relocate thousands of traditional herders”, in 1974 the Government of Tanzania gave 2,500 square kilometers to the Maasai who had intruded the conserved land of Loliondo among the 4,000 square kilometer for human activities.

Since then the 1,500 square kilometer remained under conservation as water sources and breeding of wild animals including the wildebeest. The area is very important for the eco system of the whole Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Maswa, Gulmet and Maasai Mara.

There is no forceful eviction of Maasai people from Loliondo because inside the 1,500square kilometers there is no single community living there. It is a conserved area.

Regariding The Globe and Mail’s statement about Maasai’s ancestral land, according to Tanzania’s regulations, there is no so called “ancestral land”. The land belongs to the public that is why Maasai are all over the country and are not chased or evicted by other societies residing to those areas despite existence incidences whereby Maasai pastoralists feed their cattle to crop farms of other societies.

Regariding The Globe and Mail’s statement about hunting companies which have invested millions of money in the 1,500 square kilometre, yes, it has been so for so many year because this land has hunting blocks and according to Tanzania law hunting is allowed. They hunt during specific periods but also preserve the area. They obey the law, and conditions put by authorities.

Kenyan institutions should stop distorting the situation in Loliondo. We know there interested group in Kenya which are trying to damage the reputation of Tanzania in the International community.

Tanzania welcomes anyone who would like to get the true picture of Loliondo to come and witness.