Herders say they support govt conservation efforts

Arusha. Representatives of nomadic pastoralists in Arusha and Manyara regions have downplayed misguided perception that they were against wildlife conservation.

Instead, they said, they supported the government’s efforts to conserve the country’s natural heritage as long as they are not unfairly dislocated or victimised. “We will not tamper with the government’s conservation programmes. We will cooperate with the conservation agencies,” asserted an activist Edward Loure.

He said here early this week that the perception that traditional livestock herders, especially in the northern regions, were against the protected areas for wildlife conservation was misguided.

“What we always stress is that any conservation programme should be participatory and that the surrounding communities should benefit,” stressed Mr Loure, the 2016 Goldman Environmental Prize winner. The activist, now the coordinator of the Arusha-based Ujamaa Community Resource Team (UCRT), was awarded for his efforts in defending the Maasai traditional way of life threatened by commercial tourism.

He said this during told a hastily convened media briefing by a coalition NGOs in support of the government’s directive to halt eviction of livestock herders alleged to have encroached the protected areas. President John Magufuli on Tuesday specifically ordered the immediate suspension of planned eviction of people in 366 villages and hamlets across the country.

Mr Edward Porokwa, the executive director of Pingos-Forum, the umbrella body of NGOs advocating for the rights of the pastoralists said many livestock keeping communities shared borders with the national parks.

However, he added they have been much concerned by frequent attacks, arbitrary arrests, torching of homes and confiscation of animals and other property belonging to the herders. “This has continued on framed charges that they have trespassed the boundaries of the protected areas. We re happy that the government has at last come to our rescue”,he pointed out.

Simanjiro MP (CCM) James Ole Millya regretted what he termed as “victimisation” of the livestock keepers, arguing that protection of wild animals should not be undertaken at the expense of human livelihood. Mr George Bajuta, the chairman of a country-wide body called the Livestock Keepers’ Association, suggested that areas which are no longer suitable for conservation should be given to the needy herders.

Conflicts between the conservation agencies and the nomadic pastoralists have been more pronounced in the northern regions, especially Arusha, Manyara and Kilimanjaro regions.