Tanzania's Conservation Expansion Sparks Concerns Over Maasai Displacement

A group of 72 households, comprising 515 individuals and 2,206 livestock, voluntarily relocated today, January 18, 2024, from Ngorongoro Conservation Area to Msomera Village in Handeni, Tanga Region.Photo: Courtesy.

By Adonis Byemelwa

Tanzania is ramping up efforts to expand its protected nature reserves, aiming to lure luxury tourism and foreign investments. This ambitious move highlights its commitment to environmental conservation while strategically positioning itself as a premier destination for high-end travelers and global investors alike.

By enhancing its natural treasures, the country seeks not only to safeguard biodiversity but also to boost economic growth through sustainable tourism ventures. However, this ambitious conservation drive is increasingly displacing the Maasai herders from their ancestral lands, raising serious human rights and environmental concerns.

In recent years, Tanzania's President Samia Suluhu Hassan has unveiled bold initiatives to increase the country's conservation areas from 30% to 50% of its total territory.

 This expansion is touted as crucial for attracting billions in foreign investments and catering to the growing luxury tourism sector. Nevertheless, these efforts come at a significant cost to the Maasai people, whose traditional livelihoods and communities are deeply intertwined with these lands.

The Maasai, renowned for their pastoralist lifestyle and rich cultural heritage, are facing unprecedented challenges as their ancestral lands are converted into exclusive conservation zones.

 Under Tanzania's conservation laws, settlements, schools, and healthcare facilities are prohibited within these protected areas, except for tourism infrastructure.

This has led to the forced displacement of numerous Maasai villages, with plans to relocate even more communities, affecting over 300,000 people according to NGOs and affected communities.

Critics argue that the government's policies disproportionately impact the Maasai, denying them access to lands essential for their cattle herding and cultural practices.

Joseph Oleshangay, a prominent Maasai chief and legal advocate, has been vocal in challenging these policies in court.

He has documented instances where government actions, including the demolition of schools and healthcare centers, have exacerbated hardships for the Maasai communities.

In April 2021, the government announced plans to demolish essential community infrastructure in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area," Oleshangay stated, highlighting ongoing legal battles to protect Maasai rights amidst increasing encroachments.

Despite legal victories to halt some demolitions, basic services like healthcare remain scarce, leaving communities vulnerable, particularly during emergencies.

International scrutiny has intensified as Tanzania seeks foreign investments for its conservation projects.

Germany, through the KfW Development Bank, has been a significant supporter of Tanzania's conservation efforts, contributing millions of euros despite concerns over human rights violations.

Recently, the World Bank and European Commission temporarily suspended funding due to similar concerns, signaling growing international unease over Tanzania's approach. The plight of the Maasai is compounded by accusations of coercion and misinformation regarding resettlement programs.   

Former Government Spokesperson Mobhare Matinyi speaking to journalists in Msomera Village, Handeni District, Tanga Region, on January 17, 2024. Photo: courtesy.

While government officials insist that resettlement is voluntary and necessary for development, Maasai representatives and rights groups argue otherwise.

Wilson Sakulo, overseeing resettlement efforts, emphasizes the benefits of relocation to new settlements like Msomera, designed to provide modern amenities. Yet, many Maasai view these initiatives as undermining their traditional way of life and cultural identity.

Amidst these challenges, the Maasai's voice in national discourse has been uneven. Critics point to the complexities faced by prominent figures like a Tumaini University Makumira lecturer, Elifuraha Laltaika. Laltaika is a legal scholar and advocate within the community.

Dr. Laltaika, known for his work on Indigenous land rights, has faced constraints in advocating for his community due to familial ties and his recent twin brother’s judicial appointments.

This has placed additional burdens on figures like Oleshangay, who continues to champion Maasai rights amidst legal and political pressures.

Tanzania stands at a crossroads as it pursues ambitious conservation goals while grappling with the profound socio-economic impacts on indigenous communities, notably the Maasai.

The government's push to expand protected areas, ostensibly to bolster tourism and attract foreign investments, has sparked intense debate both domestically and internationally.

Central to this debate is the fate of the Maasai people, whose centuries-old pastoralist lifestyle and cultural heritage are deeply intertwined with the lands now earmarked for conservation.

 The Maasai, like many indigenous communities worldwide, face a stark dilemma: the preservation of natural habitats versus the preservation of their traditional ways of life.

The enforcement of conservation laws, which prohibit human habitation and essential services within protected areas except for tourism infrastructure, effectively disenfranchises these communities from their ancestral lands.

Joseph Oleshangay, a prominent Maasai chief and legal advocate, has tirelessly challenged these policies in courts, highlighting the systematic marginalisation and displacement faced by his people.

Despite legal victories temporarily halting demolitions and resettlement efforts, the fundamental rights of the Maasai to live on and utilize their lands sustainably remain precarious.

Internationally, Tanzania's conservation strategies have garnered mixed reactions. While foreign investments, particularly from countries like Germany and the UAE, promise economic growth and infrastructural development, they have also drawn criticism and scrutiny.

Concerns over human rights violations, displacement, and environmental degradation have prompted donor institutions like the World Bank and the European Commission to reconsider funding commitments, reflecting a growing global sensitivity to indigenous rights and environmental justice.

The situation is further complicated by internal dynamics within Tanzania, where advocates like Elifuraha seem to retract their activisms. Laltaika, despite his legal expertise and advocacy, faces constraints due to familial ties and political pressures.

 His experience underlines the challenges faced by indigenous leaders in navigating complex legal and bureaucratic landscapes while advocating for their communities' rights.

The future of Tanzania's conservation policies hinges not only on ecological sustainability and economic prosperity but also on upholding the rights and livelihoods of indigenous peoples.

Achieving a harmonious balance between environmental preservation, economic development, and indigenous rights remains a formidable challenge requiring inclusive dialogue, transparent governance, and meaningful participation of affected communities.

Tanzania continues to navigate these contentious issues, and the global community's role in holding accountable and supporting equitable and sustainable development practices cannot be overstated.

The plight of the Maasai serves as a poignant reminder of the urgent need for holistic approaches that prioritize both conservation and human rights, ensuring that future generations can inherit a world where environmental stewardship and cultural heritage go hand in hand.