By Lake Zone Watch Writer
Fifty years ago today, the government, through Notice, No. 269, declared the area of Speke Gulf which comprises three villages of Serengeti, Nyatwali and Tamu — all in Bunda district — as game-controlled areas.
With an area of 46.47 square kilometres, the three villages have a combined population of 7,022 people and 1,274 households, according to the 2022 National Census. These villages lie in the Greater Serengeti Ecosystem in Tanzania which has immense conservation significance when considering its long-term association with protected areas and the concentration of diverse wildlife species.
The ecosystem is comprised of the world renowned protected areas such as Serengeti National Park and Ngorongoro Conservation Area. The Serengeti ecosystem, according to famed researchers, has continued to be in the spotlight with regard to dissatisfaction of communities with wildlife management efforts in the protected areas due to increased tensions between conservationists and investors on one side and villagers on the other.
It is because of the importance of the Serengeti ecosystem which pushed the government to take a firm decision to resettle the villagers of Serengeti, Nyatwali and Tamu to leave the wild animals roam their natural habitat freely.
Indeed, there is hardly another territory on earth which can boast of possessing so large a number and so great a variety of wildlife as Tanzania. Our National Parks and Game Reserves are known the world over. We are envied by many nations for this unique treasure.
If we can keep the wild animals alive and protect their land we will have gained four things: a great number of tourists will come and spend their money here; there will be enough wildlife to hunt some it as source of meat, hides and other products; we will earn the admiration and thankfulness of all civilised nations, because here they can still enjoy wildlife in the natural surroundings; and we will give scientists the opportunity to study animal life.
Just to remind Tanzanians of this generation, in September 1961, Father of the Nation, Mwalimu Julius Nyerere signed a manifesto which spelt out clearly the importance of conservation of wildlife species: “The survival of our wildlife is a matter of grave concern to all of us in Africa. These wild creatures amid the wild places they inhabit are not only important as a source of wonder and inspiration but are an integral part of our natural resources and our future livelihood and well-being.”
This manifesto has been the key message of government leaders delivered to Nyatwali ward villagers in Bunda district that they should vacate the area to allow restoration of its ecological balance as an important part of the Serengeti ecosystem.
Compensation for the evictees
However, the burning issue for the Nyatwali ward evictees has been payment of compensation to enable them move elsewhere as agreed by the government. It is more than two years since government promised to compensate them as currently, they cannot undertake any economic activity in the area.
The Nyatwali ward residents have bitterly complained on this compensation matter as it has taken too long to be affected.
It is, however, gratifying that there is light at the end of the tunnel as the villagers would now be compensated 59bn/- following a survey carried out two years ago. This was confirmed recently at a public meeting by the Mara Regional Commissioner Said Mohamed Mtanda.
The message he delivered to the villagers was to remain “patient as the government is working on this issue.”
Remaining patient sometimes is injurious, but for Nyatwali villagers, good things come to people who wait.
Post a Comment
0Comments