The Hadza community, residing in the Eyasi area of Karatu District, Arusha Region, has urged the central government to intervene in a dispute over their eviction from land they have preserved for generations through traditional knowledge and practices.
The community has been served with a 14-day eviction notice to vacate their homes, in order to make way for a businessman (name withheld) who has purchased the land to cultivate onions.
Speaking to journalists in Qandet Village, Karatu District, during a visit to assess the community’s traditional conservation knowledge, which is part of a project led by the Media Association for the Promotion of Indigenous Communities (MAIPAC), the community expressed their concerns.
The project is funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) through the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Vice President’s Office on Environment. The Hadza community has called on the government to offer support.
Maria Yona, the Secretary of the Hadza community in Eyasi, appealed to the government to prevent their eviction from the land they have stewarded for centuries with traditional knowledge.
She explained that their ancestral land is increasingly being encroached upon by farmers, which has led to the loss of vital traditional food sources, including fruits, roots, and honey.
Mdindi Samboga, the Chairman of the Hadza Community, emphasized that the Hadza people are requesting the government to formally recognize their land rights, similar to other communities in the region.
He pointed out that the Hadza community in Yaeda Chini, Mbulu District, has been issued with customary land certificates, which has helped protect their land from invasions.
Ng’o Nkoo (Thomas), another Hadza member, expressed that life has become extremely challenging for them, as they no longer have access to their traditional land or food sources due to encroachment. The absence of livestock and honey further exacerbates their difficulties.
Kassim Miraji, a Community Development Officer from Baray Ward, acknowledged the ongoing challenges faced by the Hadza community, including land issues and access to loans for women.
He noted that the government has allocated funds for women’s loans and assured the community that he would begin assisting them in joining groups to access these funds.
Daniel Hhawu, the Chairman of the Tourism Board for the Lake Eyasi area, confirmed that while the Hadza community, including women, faces significant challenges despite being a major tourist attraction, land-related issues fall under the jurisdiction of the government.
He clarified that the tourism board does not handle land matters, but they are advocating for support to address the community’s needs.
Mussa Juma, the Director of MAIPAC, shared that the organization has engaged with the Hadza community to collect and preserve their traditional knowledge on conservation, with plans to compile it into a book.
Earlier, women from the community participated in a discussion organized by MAIPAC in collaboration with SAVVY FM, where they highlighted their struggles, including land encroachment, lack of access to water, food shortages, and other essential services.
Furthermore, women from the Hadza community were supported in attending the International Women's Day celebrations in Arusha, where the guest of honor was President Samia Suluhu.