DAR ES SALAAM: Tanzanian authorities have briefed members of diplomatic corps and international organizations on conservation measures the east African nation is taking in two protected areas following more than a week of false information by social media on the two areas.
Liberata Mulamula, the Minister for Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation, said on Tuesday the government, at different levels, has given clarification of the state of affairs about the demarcation of Loliondo Game Controlled Area and the relocation of Ngorongoro residents.
“Despite those efforts we have continued to witness deliberate efforts to misrepresent the reality,” Mulamula told ambassadors from various countries and representative from international organizations in the commercial capital Dar es Salaam.
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Mulamula denied reports that there are forced evictions in the areas to pave way for conservation measures, assuring the international community that Tanzania abides by the rule of law and it is also a party to a number of international conventions and protocols with respect to human rights.
Maurus Msuha, the director of Wildlife in the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism, said there are challenges for balancing conservation and community development in the Loliondo Game Controlled Area and the Ngorongoro conservation area.
“Interventions for Loliondo Game Controlled and the Ngorongoro conservation area are completely different, but they all seek to help communities in the areas,” said Msuha.
He said none of the two sites involves eviction of communities as it is being portrayed by some people and organizations, adding that Loliondo Game Controlled Area and Ngorongoro conservation area are reserved lands.
Damas Ndumbaro, the Minister for Constitutional and Legal Affairs, denied reports trending in social media that the government is evicting people to create a game reserve for hunting tourism.
“There is no violation of human rights, no land grabbing and there is no eviction,” said Ndumbaro, adding that the government is instead giving land to its citizens to use as they wished.
