Musa Juma, Valentine Marc Nkwame and Navaya Ndaskoi
9 August 2008
Arusha — The Prime Minister Mizengo Pinda has okayed the formation of a committee to probe the controversy dogging a farm in Soitsambu in Ngorongoro District.
The farm has reportedly been leased out to an American owned company Thomson Safaris by the Tanzania Breweries Limited.
The 12, 600-acre Sukenya farm was leased to the company through its subsidiary Tanzania Conservation Limited at the cost of USD US$ 1.2 million.
The decision to form a probe committee was reached by the Prime Minister at the end of last week after meeting 13 leaders of Soitsambu village government who went to Dodoma to face him over the ownership of the farm.
The villagers led by Emmanuel Kema and the chairman of Olepolos Simanga sub-village decided to have audience with the Prime Minister having vehemently disagreed with Arusha's Regional Commissioner Isidori Shirima statement that Thomson Safaris lease of the farm was legal and in order.
Kema told journalists that they succeeded to meet the Prime Minister through arrangements by their Member of Parliament, Vincent Terere and they were promised that a committee would be formed to probe the farm ownership crisis. They were promised that the committee would include representatives from the Ministries of Local Government, Home Affairs, Tourism and Natural Resources and the village representatives.
Villagers claim that after the transfer of the farm to Thomson Safaris, Maasai pastoralists found themselves being denied the right to graze their cattle in the farm and access to water. They argue that even the transfer of the farm from the villagers to Tanzania Breweries was illegal, in the first place.
Meanwhile, regional authorities called a special meeting to address the shoot-out incident which occurred in Loliondo last April, during which a Moran was badly hurt.
The victim Lesinko Ole Nanyoi who had been lying in critical condition at the Muhimbili hospital in Dar es Salaam for three months was discharged last week. He still spits blood but his life was saved. He was shot during the incident and had his jaw shattered.
To date no suspect has been arrested in connection with the shooting and Loliondo residents wonder why.
The question "Who did it?" however remains unanswered. Thomson Safaris has denied responsibility even during last week's meeting in Arusha. The meeting, which was conducted at the Arusha District office hall, was chaired by the Arusha Regional Commissioner, Isidori Shirima.
The RC said it was the first incident of that nature to occur in Arusha as far as he was concerned and called for peaceful relations among tour operators and residents.
Regional Police Commander Basilio Matei, admits the issues was confusing; "We are still investigating but so far cannot say for sure who shot the Maasai youth." As far as Matei is concerned there was indeed chaos at Sukenya farm where Thomson Safaris have set up their base. Police in Loliondo denied to have shot the Moran arguing that their officers were simply firing in the air.
The focal point of the confrontation is the 12,600-acre controversial land belonging to Sukenya location of Soitsambu village. In 1984, the Government took the land and handed it over to Tanzania Breweries Limited which immediately started barley plantation.
By the mid 1990s, however, the company ceased barley production. The Maasai have been grazing on it for the over 17 years. In 2006, TBL leased the said 12,600 acres to a tour company based in Boston, U.S.A. The company, Thomson Safaris, is owned by Judith Wineland and her husband, Rick Thomson.
The change in land use at Sukenya is one of the controversies surrounding the farm and it was reportedly even raised by local Laigwanans (elders) during President Jakaya Kikwete visit to Loliondo early last year.
The company had intended to start using the farm for tourism activities effective from May 2008 and thus banned the Maasai locals from either passing or moving their animals across the area. Sukenya farm stands between Irmasiling residential locations. The passage to both Wasso and Loliondo centers cuts through the farm.
With such an 'out-of-bounds' order, people living in Irmasiling villages are forced to first go into Kenya then find their way back to Tanzania via either Soitsambu or Ololosokwan villages.
"Actually we only told the Maasai not to graze in the area during day time. They are free to bring their cattle at night," Ole Nyangusi, the Thomson official had 'offered' then. But this turned out to be a difficult offer for the local pastoralists as their cattle would be easy pray to lions and leopards.
The pastoral community say they cannot understand why the company should refuse them to use the water of Molole 'River,' which is actually a stream separating the farm and the village. They need the water for their animals to drink.
Attempts to interview the Thomsons who jetted in Arusha recently were not successful. Initially Judith Wineland agreed by phone to meet with one of our reporters on July 11, 2008 at 09:00.
They later cancelled the meeting saying 'we have to go to Tarangire and see a safari group' postponing the date to 'early next week,' but they called later and declared that they were instead arranging a joint press conference with the Arusha Regional Commissioner.
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