This is an open letter to Vice President Kamala Harris, urging her to help address two major issues affecting the Maasai people of Tanzania. The first issue is the demarcation of a new protected area in Loliondo, which is permanently taking critical land from the Maasai people to protect foreign trophy hunting. The second issue is the involuntary relocation of Maasai people from Ngorongoro Conservation Area, which is forcing many Maasai to abandon their way of life. An estimated 70,000 people have been evicted from 14 villages within Loliondo, and another 10,000 people have left Ngorongoro, with 90,000 Maasai in Ngorongoro without access to basic services such as healthcare.
The letter argues that these actions have no ecological, economic, or political justification and will force most of the Maasai from this region to abandon their way of life. The Tanzanian government’s actions have impeded pastoralism and most negatively impact women and youth. The government has evicted people from their homes, closed schools and water sources, provided poisoned saltlicks, and implemented a policy resulting in the daily starvation of livestock from 28 villages. Additionally, the government has violated the rights of Maasai indigenous peoples to free, prior, and informed consent.
The letter requests that Vice President Harris encourage the Tanzanian government to respect international instruments, obligations, and good governance principles, and respect pastoralism as a viable way of life. Specifically, the letter calls for the immediate restoration of Maasai grazing rights, a halt to the plan to take further Maasai areas to expand protected areas in Tanzania, and the establishment of a commission or inquiry to examine disputed lands and displaced people. The letter also calls for the immediate cessation of the military special task force stationed in Loliondo that intimidates and harasses anyone advocating for basic rights and seeking justice.
Overall, the letter urges Vice President Harris to advocate for a sustainable and equitable solution that meets the reasonable needs of the hundreds of thousands of pastoralists in the region, whose livelihoods rely on access to grazing lands and water. You can read the letter dated 20th March in it entire through 2023 March PF Open letter to VP Harris