ACT Wazalendo has called for stronger accountability following the death of a 25-year-old man allegedly after being subjected to severe abuse by conservation officers in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area.
The opposition party has demanded legal action against officers implicated in the incident and called for Natural Resources and Tourism Minister Ashatu Kijaji and Ngorongoro Conservation Area Authority (NCAA) Conservation Commissioner Abdul Razaq Badru to resign or be removed from their positions.
The demands follow an incident on August 12, 2026, involving three young men identified as Seif Mussa, Salimu Haji and Abdallah Nuru.
According to ACT Wazalendo, the three men lost their way and inadvertently entered the protected area. The party alleges that they were arrested and severely beaten despite explaining their circumstances and allegedly being found without wildlife trophies or other evidence of wrongdoing.
The party said the alleged assault resulted in Mussa's death, while Haji and Nuru sustained injuries and are receiving medical treatment.
Police said on August 13 that officers who were on duty in the area had been arrested as investigations into the incident continued.
ACT Wazalendo welcomed the arrests but said the government should go beyond investigations and ensure that any officer found responsible is prosecuted in accordance with the law.
The party also argued that the incident should prompt a broader review of how conservation enforcement officers exercise their powers, particularly when dealing with ordinary citizens who may unintentionally enter protected areas.
“We condemn in the strongest terms incidents of brutality by conservation officers against citizens, including torture, humiliation and unlawful killings,” ACT Wazalendo said.
The party claimed that similar allegations have previously emerged from several protected areas, including Ruaha, Saadani and Lake Manyara national parks, as well as Mbarali forest and other conservation areas.
It said repeated investigations without clear public accountability could undermine citizens' confidence in law enforcement institutions.
ACT Wazalendo called on the government to provide medical treatment at state expense for the two surviving victims and compensate Mussa's family and others who suffered harm in the incident.
It further urged authorities to implement recommendations of the Commission on Criminal Justice relating to systemic reforms in the country's security and law-enforcement institutions.
Among its proposals, the party wants the operational and accountability structures governing conservation officers reviewed to ensure that enforcement powers are exercised within the law and with full respect for human rights.
The party's call places renewed focus on the balance between wildlife conservation and the rights of communities and individuals living around or interacting with protected areas.
While conservation officers have a legal responsibility to protect wildlife and protected areas, ACT Wazalendo said such responsibilities must be exercised within established legal procedures and without violating citizens' fundamental rights.
The party extended condolences to Mussa's family and wished the two injured survivors a speedy recovery, while urging the government to ensure that the investigation produces a clear and credible account of what happened.
