The Tanzanian government, through the President’s Office, Regional Administration and Local Government (TAMISEMI), has reversed its earlier decision to delist villages in the Ngorongoro district following a series of peaceful protests from the Maasai community. The villages were initially removed as part of a broader government move announced on August 2, 2024.
However, the Minister in the President’s Office – Regional Administration and Local Government, Mohamed Mchengerwa, announced the reinstatement of 12,333 villages, 4,269 streets, and 64,274 sub-villages, allowing them to participate in the upcoming local government elections scheduled for November 27, 2024. The minister also urged citizens to register as voters between October 11th-20th, 2024 and encouraged those interested in running for local government positions to prepare for the elections. This announcement is seen as a significant relief for the affected communities, particularly in Ngorongoro, where the Maasai had protested their exclusion from voter registration and other civic rights.
Mchengerwa’s announcement comes just a month and a half after the controversial delisting, providing a fresh opportunity for the residents of Ngorongoro to participate in the November elections.
The Maasai community had raised their frustrations over being excluded from electoral processes and basic services. Their protests, which took place on August 18, 2024, along the Ngorongoro-Serengeti highway, were centered on demands for the restoration of essential services like healthcare and education, as well as recognition of their ancestral land rights. The Maasai have faced restricted access to social services and have been pressured to vacate their lands, leading to increased tensions.
In addition to the reinstatement of villages, President Samia Suluhu Hassan ordered the restoration of critical social services in Ngorongoro. On August 23, 2024, Minister William Lukuvi delivered these orders to the residents, instructing district officials to repair water infrastructure and rebuild school facilities. The directive emphasized the president’s commitment to ensuring quality services for the people of Ngorongoro.
The Tanganyika Law Society (TLS) also weighed in on the issue, calling for the government to uphold the rights of Ngorongoro residents. TLS President Boniface Mwabukusi criticized the earlier delisting of villages, stating that there was no legal basis for the government’s actions. TLS urged the government to reinstate all services and resolve the issue through meaningful dialogue.
The Maasai community’s protests and international attention have pressured the government to reconsider its plans to relocate over 110,000 Maasai from Ngorongoro, with human rights groups condemning the forced evictions.
