By Jemimah Chungu
An environmental Violation of the Tanzanian Massai villages is and has been on going for years. The environment of the massai in the country is being violated of their social- cultural, economic and physical environment by the political environment for occupying their own land. This is because of a neo- colonial act by the western conservation model with the support of greedy governmental bodies and other cooperations
are being forced to leave their native land for in the guise of Environmental conservation.
An example of these cooperations is the United Arab Emirates (UAE) who occupied a large area of a massai village called loliondo area for trophy hunting.
The massai indegeneous group is among many other millions of indegeneous peoples that are being voilated and fighting for their rights unfairly. They’re also like other minority groups of people who hardly take part in decision making.
The voilation has been ongoing for years and resumed mid this year after contrary to the abolishment of this voilation by the previous government.
According to The Oakland Institution, the western conservation model have led to; a widespread evictions, hunger, ill- health, and human rights voilations including killings, rapes and torture across Africa and Asia.
In addition, they are being forcefully displaced whilst being promised “comfortable homes” leaving many homeless
Due to this, some of them had to flee to Kenya for medical treatment while some were confined to their homes. However this country is also facing Kenya is also among east African countries facing Environmental challenges such as droughts rages and need resolutions.
The massai indegeneous to Tanzania could be eliminated from their homes forever which can destroy their rich culture and knowledge for years. At the same time, the country is to face pollution, wildlife decline of both fauna and flora among other Environmental deficits.
The Tanzanian government has been ignoring the call for justice by and for the massai;
Under the proposed “30×30 initiative,” member states to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)(link is external) would declare at least 30 percent of the world’s land and sea masses as Protected Areas by 2030. The proposal, set to be adopted at the 15th Conference of Parties (COP) of the CBD in Montreal, which began on December 7, 2022, sets the stage for massive land grabs and human rights violations. (The Oakland Institution).
The Tanzanian government has also ignored efforts by lawsuits by the leaders of Indegeneous groups and the call to protect their rights. They instead have chosen to make their own citizens suffer.
Could there be more to this neo-colonial behavior?
