“My husband decided to move to Msomera (during the eviction), but I was not ready to go. He took everything, he took our herds. After he took everything I returned to my family where I was born. So as I speak, I am staying with my mom.”

The story of Mesito, a mother of three, who is a resident of Ngorongoro. Mesito is among tens of women who were separated from their husbands due to the ongoing eviction of Ngorongoro residents, most of whom are Maasai.

Her story began in 2023 when her husband decided to move to Msomera. Mesito is married to a man with three wives. But during the eviction, her husband picked only one wife and left Mesito and another wife behind. He took all assets with him including their herds. After he left, the government destroyed the house where they were living. Now Mesito has no place to live, nowhere to go. She later decided to go back to her parents where she was born with her three children.

She is economically struggling to raise three kids, moving from place to place doing small businesses just to survive. Mesito represents thousands of Ngorongoro residents who are not ready to be evacuated to Msomera because they believe they are culturally connected to their land.

Tens of women are homeless, separated from their husbands and their children. Most of them are seeking help from relatives after decades of marriage. A few of them are now trying to get their rights from the court. These are the tragic stories of men, women, and children who have been separated from their families since the Tanzanian government started the eviction of the Maasai Indigenous community in Ngorongoro in 2022.

More than 8,000 residents were evicted by May 2024 according to Mobhare Matinyi, Government Spokesperson (then). Official data from the government shows that since the eviction, 8,364 people and 36,457 herds have been evicted from Ngorongoro. According to the government, these people are from 1,373 households.

Background

According to the United Nations (UN), Tanzania has at least four Indigenous tribes, namely the Hadzabe, Maasai, Datoga, and Ike. These tribes are located in different parts of the country. The Maasai are found in the northeast part of the country, one of these places being Ngorongoro. Ngorongoro is rich in nature and has been one of the World Heritage Sites according to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) since 1979.

In 1940, the colonial government evicted four Indigenous communities from the Serengeti to Ngorongoro after the establishment of Serengeti National Park. These were the Maasai, Datoga, Ike, and Hadzabe. The Maasai were the majority, while the Hadzabe were the minority. They were relocated from the Serengeti to Ngorongoro for conservation purposes.

In 1951, the Ngorongoro Conservation Area (NCA) was established under the National Park Ordinance of 1948 for the purpose of preserving its natural geographical and ecological make-up. The NCA has a unique feature whereby wild animals co-exist with human beings. In 1959, the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, which covers 8,292 km², was officially split from Serengeti National Park.

The Eviction of the Maasai

In 2021, the current Tanzanian president, Dr. Samia Suluhu Hassan, said that Ngorongoro had to be protected due to human activities endangering its existence.

“Ngorongoro is disappearing. We agreed that people and animals would live together, but not to this extent. 100,000 people for those animals, the animals will simply be overwhelmed.”

The government started the eviction plan by explaining four major reasons:

• Increase in the number of people (8,000 in 1951)

• Increase in the number of cattle

• Increase in the number of permanent buildings by the Maasai

• Uncontrolled residence

According to official statistics, the government plans to build 5,000 houses in Tanga region for those who are evicted: 2,500 houses in Msomera, 1,500 in Kitwaina, and 1,000 in Saunyi. The last information from then-Government Spokesperson Mobhare Matinyi was that 1,000 houses were ready in Handeni while 737 of them were already occupied.

The ongoing eviction of the Maasai officially started in 2022, though rumors had been circulating in Ngorongoro since 2021 that the government planned the eviction. Some of these notices included a 30-day warning that the government would remove police stations and other facilities in Ngorongoro.

“A letter was written that within 30 days the local brick houses there should be demolished. While we were waiting, later the situation calmed down and it was not implemented. The conservationist wrote himself that we have not said that,” said Joseph Ole Shangay, a Ngorongoro resident and human rights lawyer in Tanzania.

While the government laid down the reasons for the eviction, it is important to note that back in 2019, the Ngorongoro Conservation Area Authority (NCAA) conducted research titled Research Priority Areas (2019), which stated:

“Conflicts between wildlife and people, particularly over shared resources, are a common and growing phenomenon in the NCA and surrounding areas. These conflicts result in significant impacts to both human and wildlife populations.”

In February 2022, media outlets reported on Ngorongoro, highlighting the increase in population and indicating that the area was at risk.

“Population increase in Ngorongoro is a disaster,” read the leading story at Jamvi la Habari, a local newspaper. “Deep darkness in Ngorongoro” was the leading story at Jamhuri, another local paper.

“There is no tribe that owns land in Tanzania; all the land belongs to the President, and according to the laws that we have made here, it can be taken at any time. The right of you from whom the land is confiscated is compensation,” said Damas Ndumbaro, currently Minister of Constitutional and Legal Affairs, commenting on the justification for the Maasai eviction in Parliament.

According to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), the population in Ngorongoro was projected to be 100,000 people in 2024. Livestock numbers were recorded at 1,041,713 cattle, 599,099 sheep, and 651,048 goats. The government argued that the future of Ngorongoro was in jeopardy due to these increases.

When the eviction began, some Maasai leaders complained that it was not true that their community had been given prior and informed consent. The government addressed the public several times, insisting that local leaders — traditionally known as Laigwanan — were involved in the process, but residents maintained that they had not been included in decision-making.

“We are here in great sorrow because Ngorongoro has been confiscated by force and we are not being removed voluntarily. We do not have water and medical care for the livestock. This year when people were removed, the livestock became very sick, and we asked for help such as water and treatment without success,” said Laigwanan Embapa Kuya.

Health Sector in Ngorongoro since eviction

Since early 1960s, Flying Medical Services (FMS) have been operating in East Africa to provide a rapid and urgent medical care to the very remote areas in East Africa. One of the places where Flying Medical Services (FMS) was operating is in Northern part of Tanzania including Ngorongoro. For more than 5 decades, they have been vital to remote areas in Tanzania specifically in the Maasai land.

On June 2022, the General Director of Tanzania Civil Aviation Authority (TCAA), Hamza Johari wrote a letter to the Director and Chief pilot of Flying Medical Services (FMS) urging them to stop their service in the country. TCAA explained in the letter that there were some irregularities in providing the service including operating foreign-registered aircraft in the country for a long time without subjecting them to local registration for ease of regulatory oversight.

TCAA, continued with reasons for stopping Flying Medical Services (FMS), describing that they were not paying statutory fees related to the aircraft operations in accordance to the law and not observing point of entry or exit when performing flights that cross the Tanzanian borders.

On 3^rd and 6^th July 2022, Flying Medical Services (FMS) wrote a letter to Hamza Johari, TCAA Director General, asking to meet him in Arusha or any place he might decide in order to discuss the government suspension on their flights. But the government never responded in time until 2024 when Flying Medical Services (FMS) were allowed to operate but not in Ngorongoro.

How community was impacted

Joseph Oleshangay, a Human Right Lawyer in Tanzania who is from Ngorongoro thinks that the government suspension of Flying Medical Services targeted the Maasai community.

“For the reason, I think they got a problem, now if we suspend them alone, the issue will start to appear we have targeted Ngorongoro, then entirely in Maasai areas. One of the letters from the Ministry of Health said that the Maasai areas do not have social services, they are marginalized and those people have been helping us all these years. But just now they were told that you operate American planes, so you are not allowed to operate anymore despite being here for more than 40 years.”  Joseph’s view on the matter.

Men, women and Children are suffering from the government decision. Mesito and other women who were left behind had to survive through. Other Ngorongoro residents are not sure about their future if medical services are not available. Some of them think that suspension of social services in the area is harassment towards the community.

“We are harassed; we have been afraid and worried after being denied social services, so we have no hope of living.” Said Noorkitoip Lemindiya, a resident of Ngorongoro.

In 2022, Tanzanian government decided to stop funding social services projects in Ngorongoro.  In different phases the amount of 500 million Tanzanian Shillings was transferred from Ngorongoro to Handeni.

“At the moment, I am relying on God and some other who are will to help because the money from the previous phase, more than 500 million given for development projects, has been transferred to Handeni to build Handeni.” Laigwanan Embapa Kuya worrying about the future of  Maasai community in Ngorongoro.

Edward Maura is a former Ward Councilor in Ngorongoro. He is wondering government decision of stopping health services in Ngorongoro.  He believes this decision is targeting to deny their right to live and the right to get education.

“The money has come in, the Ngorongoro Conservation Area Authority (NCAA) blocked the permit completely, that there is no building a health center, no building a school, no building a toilet for the children. They deny us the right to live, the right to progress; the right to education belongs to every Tanzanian.” Explained Edward Maura, a Ward Councilor from Ngorongoro.

Human Rights Violation in Ngorongoro

Since 2021, Ngorongoro residents have been accusing Ngorongoro Conservation Area Authority (NCAA) for intimidating and threatening those who are not willing to move to Msomera. Some people alleged that they have been beatean by NCAA rangers for not being ready for eviction. Joseph Ole Shangay says there is gross violation of human rights in Ngorongoro.

“Let me admit one thing, we have a problem in Ngorongoro, and the biggest problem of all, is the violation of human rights. Therefore, the very first solution is to address the issue of human rights violations. First, let’s start suspending this process, and then let’s return to the reality that these are people and what do they need,” said Oleshangay human rights violation.

The incidents of torture have been recorded since the beginning of the eviction. Some residents claim that police officers were responsible in torturing them. In one of the incident, Tumo Kinoi who is a Ngorongoro residents explains how he was beaten by police officers.

“I was on my way to my uncles who suffered a tragedy, when I was on the way I met the police officers who did not introduce themselves and did not greet me instead they started beating me, they tortured me to the ground without explaining the reason or fault. So I was just tortured without any fault.”

When torturing him, Tumo Kinoi said that the police officers were asking him why he has not moved to Msomera as instructed by the government. According to Tumo Kinoi, he was taken to Police station and he was unable to walk for several days after this incident.

“They beat me on my lap, they beat me so hard. I was unable to walk for several days. They took us to the police station and they were asking us why you haven’t moved? We told them we have nowhere to go. They asked us why? Other people are leaving. We answered them; we have not decided to go. They said, you despise Mama Samia’s government, they started to beat us, they beat us very, very hard,” saidTumo Kinoi.

One year since eviction started, Ngorongoro residents, especially human rights activists alleged rangers from Ngorongoro Conservation Area Authorithy (NCAA) for threatening the people. In 2023, two serious cases of human rights violation were recorded. One was the attack of 15 years old boy Joshua Ole Partoro who was on his way to home with his herds. In this incident, NCAA rangers were alleged by the residents.

“Joshua was a 15 years old boy when he was attacked in Naikanoka village in Ngorongoro. In the evening Joshua with his friends were heading to their homes. When the rangers appeared other boys had to run away. Unfortunately Joshua was unable to escape because the rangers fired bullets on air and the boy was shocked. So, they attacked him and broke his front teeth. During the treatment I was with him, so I know he suffered.” Said Lanyori Kuya, a human right activist from Ngorongoro.

The boy was then taken to Silian hospital in Arusha. This incident raised social media discussion in Tanzania to what was going on in Ngorongoro. Talking to this article, Lanyori said when the boy wanted to get a ‘PF3 Form’ from the Police, the police officers denied him the access.

“I remember I started my journey to get him to hospital. He tried to get help from the village office, but they denied, he tried to get help from the ward government, but they denied, then he went to Police station to get a PF3 Form but they denied too.” Lanyori Kuya

According to Lanyori Kuya, rangers who were responsible in attacking Joshua, told to him (Joshua) that they have to abide the government decision. If they will not move to Msomera then they will continue suffering. Later on, the community demanded justice for Joshua. A parade was called for identification.

“Then the tinamparade was called to know the rangers who attacked Joshua in Ngorongoro Police Station. The rangers were identified by names, but nothing happened. There was no one held accountable.” Lanyori Kuya said.

Almost two years since Joshua was attacked, Kuya told us that Joshua is still getting the treatment (check up) after being attacked in 2023. The government of Tanzania then denied the allegation that rangers were responsible in attacking Joshua. This incident is among those identified by Ngorongoro residents as a tool for intimidating those who are not ready to be evacuated to Msomera.

In the same year (2023) another person was attacked by NCAA rangers in Olduvai. Letee Ormunderei was attacked and his right leg was broken in the thigh. Omunderei is 43 years old man who lives in Ngoile Village. Lutee was unable to walk and he was advised to attend hospital for more than 3 months.

“In the same year Lutee Ormunderei was attacked around his boma for just driving a motor cycle. His right leg thigh was broken. Then the rangers told him that they attacked him because he is reluctant to move to Msomera. When they took him in their car (pickup), they told him if you want to get treatment you have accept to be evicted. I went with him to Seliani hospital for treatment.”  Lanyori Kuya said.

2024 Demonstration in Ngorongoro

Since the suspension of social services in Ngorongoro which was not officially announced by the government, the residents in Ngorongoro decided to retaliate in 2024 for by conducting a peaceful protest in Ngorongoro Conservation Area (NCA). The protestors had four agenda to the government whereby restoring provision of social services the main reason for their match. It is estimated that more than 40,000 Ngorongoro residents demonstrated continuously for more than 5 days, saying that they are not stopping their demonstration if the President of Tanzania will not address the key issues they are demanding.

That stance by Maasai was supported by Civil Society Organizations, including Pingo’s Forum, which issued a joint statement in August 2024 calling on the government to stop harassing and discrimination against the residents of the Ngorongoro division, if the relocation is voluntary.

“We urge the government to listen to the cries of the people of Ngorongoro division and address their needs. We believe the dialogue is the only way to find solution,” said the joint statement.

After 5 consecutive days of demonstration, two Ministers went to Ngorongoro saying that they were sent by the President, Dr. Samia Suluhu Hassan. These two Ministers are Prof. Palamagamba Kabudi who was the in the Ministry of Constitution and Legal Affairs and another was William Lukuvi who is from Presidents Office. The Ministers were accompanied by Paul Makonda who was Arusha Regional Commissioner (RC), urged the protestors to the listen to the Ministers and stop demonstration.

“I am urging you the residents of Ngorongoro, though Minister Lukuvi is standing before you, but he is speaking the message of the President of United Republic of Tanzania and the Chairman of Chama Cha Mapinduzi(CCM),  the head of state, Samia Suluhu Hassan. All that he will say is the directives of head of state.” Arusha RC, Paul Makonda urging Ngorongoro residents during demonstration.

During the speech, William Lukuvi said that he has the message from the head of state. Among other things, one message was that the government has decided to restore the provision of social services in Ngorongoro. This was among the demand Ngorongoro residents raised.

“I am ordering the Regional Commissioner to restore the provision of social services to all the areas where it was stopped. We have information that in one of the school, students are urinating in the bush; the rejuvenation has to be done for the students to use toilets. I heard that in one of the girls school, students are walking many kilometers searching for water, I am ordering the maintenance to be done within 7 days.” Ordered William Lukuvi.

The current situation in Ngorongoro

Since 2022 when the eviction started in Ngorongoro, there is the grievance from the community which is not widely spoken. Some politicians from the opposition political parties denied access to conduct political rallies, while local media is not allowed to report what is happening. In 2023, the opposition leader Tundu Lissu was detained when tried to conduct political rally in Ngorongoro. In the same year, journalists were arrested when they tried to interview the residents in Ngorongoro.

Dennis Mosses is Ngorongoro resident from Endulen. He is one of the frontline lawyer and human right activists who are fighting for the justice of his community. He has witnessed tragic cases during and after eviction. He said that he sees the suffering in his community.

“In most of the families, people are psychologically affected by the eviction. People are thinking everyday about the eviction. In every family, these people are not sleeping. Some of us say we will never move, we will die here in Ngorongoro.” Dennis Mosses explained about the eviction.

The hostility, anger and tension are rising between two groups according to Dennis. One is those who are in Ngorongoro who see those moved to Msomera as their enemy, while the second group is those who were evicted to Msomera who see those in Ngorongoro as their enemy.

“There is the hostility between those people who are still in Ngorongoro and those who moved to Msomera. Those are in Ngorongoro are calling those moved to Momera as “Lost community” while those in Msomera say that those who are still in Ngorongoro are in ‘Faraoh’s hand.”Dennis elaborates about the hostility.

Dennis has been witnessing the tragic and untold story of government eviction of the Maasai. Though the Tanzanian government has insisted several times that this is voluntary eviction, but it seems not that way according to the residents. Due to the patriarchy system in Maasai community according to their tradition, men have more power than women even to some dimension where that power is hurting the venerable. Dennis says in some incidents, men made their choice; as a result their choice badly affected their relatives who are not ready to be evicted.

“In one of the case, someone who was helping a wife of his brother who was died few years ago decided to move to Msomera. Shockingly after his decision, he went and destroyed a house of his brother he was looking after just because he decided not to stay in Ngorongoro. He then destroyed another house that belongs to his brother’s son.” Dennis explained about one incident of the eviction.

 

Family separation in Ngorongoro

According to the government more than 9,000 people have been evicted from Ngorongoro since 2022. The government is insisting that the eviction is voluntary and no one is pushed without their consent. But most of the people interviewed in this article, see the pressure from the government. Some people are not ready to leave. As a result in some of the families has separated.

Grace Mbario is working with PWC Organization in Arusha region, the NGO that focuses in fighting for the right of the women. PWC has recorded more than 36 women who have separated from their husband who were evicted from Ngorongoro. These women are still in Ngorongoro.

In some families, men were not ready to be moved to Msomera, and as the result these men are also separated with their families. Ole Saburu who is a resident in Kakesio separated with his wife after his sister who was married denied to be evicted to Msomera. So, both Ole Saburu and his sister separated with their families because the other side was ready to be evicted but they were not ready

“After the eviction introduced, my sister who was married was not ready to leave so her husband wanted to take away all the children. So, my sister went to court and the court order stopped her husband to take the children. Since in our community we have the tendency of marrying interchangeably, I was married to that family. The family had a family meeting so they decided to take my wife (who is their daughter) and they said it is because my sister was not ready to go to Msomera. So I was separated with my wife in 2023.” Said Ole Saburu who separated with his wife.

According to Ole Saburu, family separation is the major issue brought by Maasai eviction from Ngorongoro. Since most of the Maasai marriage is polygamy whereby a man marries more than one woman, in some cases men left behind some of their wives while moving to Msomera.

“There are women who are separated with their men after the eviction to Msomera. They refused to left. After they refused their men decided to take children and they destroyed their houses in Ngorongoro.” Grace Mbario PWC.

Those women who are separated from their husbands have no place to stay. Some of them went back to where they were born while others are staying at their relative’s home without any income generating activity. In Karatu, a small town near Ngorongoro these women are becoming matching guys, a type of activity that’s contrary to their culture.

“Some of the in Karatu, some of them decided to go back to their families were they were born, others are staying at their relatives in Ngorongoro. They don’t have any activity.” Grace Mbario added.

The Maasai in Ngorongoro and the Barbaigh are the victim of the eviction. More than 36 women have been left by their husbands who moved to Msomera according to PWC survey in Ngorongoro. Most of them are the Maasai. There is no official data from Tanzanian government on the issue of family breakup due to eviction.

“As we speak we have a record of more than 36 women who are separated from their husband. These women are from Naikanoka, Endulen, Kakesio, Alaitol, Misigiyo. Olbalbal, Olorobi, Alailai except Nayobi ward. Among these 33 are the Maasai while other 3 are Barbaigh.” Grace Mbario PWC.

Since the first eviction in 2022, the families in Ngorongoro had experienced breakup or any other kind of instability. In some cases men who are in control of the only one way of income in Ngorongoro which is animal keeping have decided to move to Msomera without consulting their wives. As a result, women who said no to evictions have suffered the consequences as Mesito Mikas who lost everything after her husband decision.

“My husband decided to move to Msomera, but I was not ready to go. He took everything, he took our herds. After he took everything I returned to my family where I was born. So as I speak, I am staying with my mom.” Mesito explained what happened after eviction.

Mesito Mikas, a mother of three children. She said when her husband decided to move to Msomera, she remained with her children. She is now responsible to care of her children without having a permanent source of income.

“My husband has three wives. I am one of them. He took only one wife and left us behind. I am struggling now because I have three children. We are asking the government to help us because we are suffering. In order to feed these three children, I have to work hard, but I am suffering,” said Mesito, that the Tanzanian government has never publicly talked about the separation of family in Ngorongoro as the result of the eviction.

The exact number of men, women or children who are separated from their families due to eviction is not known in Ngorongoro. According to some human right activists, tens of women, men and children has been affected by the eviction since 2022.

 

Land Grabbing in Msomera

Tanzanian government made a decision of evicting Ngorongoro residents to Msomera village in Handeni Tanga, more than 600 kilometers away. Msomera is designed to be a pastoralist village since 2013. Dr. Jakaya Kikwete, the fourth Tanzanian president was responsible in official ceremony for Msomera to be designed as a pastoralist’s village. This means that the village must observe areas for grazing.

In 2022 eviction, the government publicly announced that they will relocate the residents from Ngorongoro to Msomera village in Handeni. The population in Msomera was estimated to be more than 6,000 people. Therefore according to the government decision, they were relocating people from 24 villages in Ngorongoro to one village in Msomera. After several criticisms, the government changed its plan and they added more areas out of Msomera.

The primary residents of Msomera are the Zigua, Maasai and Sambaa in minority. These tribes are involving themselves in farming and pastoralist as their main economic activities. The residents in Msomera privately owned the land. But when the government decided to relocate the Maasai from Ngorongoro, Msomera residents started complaining that the government was grabbing land from individuals and giving it to the arrivals.

Mwarabu Ole is one of the residents in Msomera. Mwarabu has two wives and six children. He was born and raised here. He depends on farming and herds keeping for his family livelihood. He said the government took more than 100 acres he privately own and give it to the people from Ngorongoro.

“I had more than 100 acres which I have divided to members of my family. All of them are now taken. I was largely depending on 8 acres for getting food for my family. That too is taken,” said Mwarabu Ole, The resident in Msomera Village.

The government is alleged of taking land from the Maasai Bomas in Msomera. Imanuel Ole is another resident in Msomera, who said that his land was taken and the beacon that separate between him and the arrivals is inside his Boma.

“They gave the land belong to me to the people from Ngorongoro. Our farms have been taken and given to this people. Every time when we present our complaints, we are not treated fairly.” Explained Imanuel.

The former village Chairman in Msomera, Musa lost his farm after the arrival of Ngorongoro residents. His farm that he was depending on for years was taken because the government said the area has a water source.

“My first farm that I bought by myself was taken by the government because they said it has water source. The source that distributes the water here in Msomera. There was no compensation made by the government, they never said they are taking my land. They just invaded it without my consent.”  Explains Musa, the former village Chairman in Msomera.

Masaai connection with their land

As any other indigenous community in the world, the Maasai depend on the land for their livelihoods. They are also connected to the nature. They have cultural bond that gives meaning to their nature. The Maasai in Ngorongoro do not kill any wild animal. They do not cut down threes. According to their culture, wild animals are their friends. Hurting them or killing them is against their norms. The Maasai clans are connected to some wild animals, while the respective clans have a duty of protecting the respective wild species.

“Those animals have clans, for example my clan is Mollel. When I sense poachers, I have to report because who is to be killed is my relative. Animals like elephants have clans called Latayok, lion is Laizer, monkeys are Lukumay. You find everything has a clan so they stay with their brothers. They are brothers.” Explained Metui Ole Shaudo

Their brotherhood with wild animals is key reason to why the most protected areas in Tanzania are those with Maasai dwellers. In Ngorongoro Maasai practice their taboos and norms by visiting some places. These include Ngorongoro Crater which is essential for age set ceremony.

“In all over Ngorongoro we have mountains where we worship as our sect, so we say let’s go where God is. If I’m evicted, will they move my god? Where will they place that god? so they should also respect that.” Maura, about their rituals.

According to the Maasai community in Ngorongoro some of the important places for their rituals are Shifting sand, Ngorongoro Crater, Matiti Hill and Oldoinyo Lengai Mountain. Based on their belief, practicing their rituals is important to their identity.

Some of their local leaders are afraid that they cannot practice their culture outside Ngorongoro. During the interview back in 2022, Edward Maura who is a Laigwanan condemned eviction worrying that it is going to affect the Maasai culture and ways of life.

“If you want to destroy lives of the Maasai, by tradition, by faith and by our social procedures, it is by moving them from their natural ways of life to a modern life without preparation. You build houses, you start a village for us, and you start a town for us, while we are pastoralists?  Will you take our livestock to the town? You do things that you have not asked us, where is human rights?” said Maura, a Maasai Laigwanan in Ngorongoro.

In the Maasai culture, things like bride are typically given by taking cattle to the other the family of a married woman. It is the symbol that shows respect to their culture. When a child is born, some gifts and inheritance are given in form of cattle or goats and sheep. With the ongoing eviction, there is the fear of losing this practice.

“There is nothing that I can do in faith and for a normal life without relying on goats, cows and sheep. If a child is born in Maasai home, one sheep must be slaughtered. Will I go raise it in town? When you marry a wife, along with the dowry, you can’t take her without giving a calf, if you commit any mistake, the command is to give a calf, if a boy is born and reaches the middle age, one calf is slaughtered.” Maura explained about their culture.

Since 2017, when the government restricted their cattle to enter some places in Ngorongoro called protected areas, the impact has been seen since then. The Oakland Institute report shows that in 2022 only 5880 cattle and 767 goats and sheep confiscated between November and December 2022. Thousands of the Maasai cattle have been confiscated by the government for pasturing in these areas. This has impacted some families who largely depend on animal husbandry.

The impact of this eviction is seen affecting the lives of women like Mesito. The indigenous community in Ngorongoro is hoping that in the coming days the Tanzanian government will consider their choice. Most of the families are largely affected culturally and economically, to the extent that some of Ngorongoro residents considered it as ‘Cultural genocide’.