National Coordinator of the Tanzania Human Rights Defenders Coalition (THRDC), Onesmo Olengurumwa. Photo: Courtesy
By Adonis Byemelwa
A powerful coalition of 44 Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and human rights defenders in Tanzania has issued a critical appeal for President Samia Suluhu Hassan to visit the Ngorongoro division in the Arusha Region. This request comes in response to escalating peaceful protests by residents, who are seeking direct attention to their urgent grievances.
Lawyer Onesmo Olengurumwa, the National Coordinator of the Tanzania Human Rights Defenders Coalition (THRDC), delivered the joint statement on August 22, 2024, in Dar es Salaam. Olengurumwa emphasized the necessity for President Samia to visit Ngorongoro personally to grasp the severity of the situation and to address the residents’ concerns.
“We strongly advise President Samia Suluhu Hassan to visit Ngorongoro to listen to the citizens and fully comprehend their challenges,” Olengurumwa stated. “Despite the ongoing peaceful protests, the residents' main plea is for the President to come and hear their issues directly.”
The protests, which began on August 18, 2024, reflect a range of serious concerns including the denial of essential services, discrimination by authorities, and government plans to evict residents from their ancestral lands. This plan was set in motion with the delisting of all wards and villages in Ngorongoro.
“The government must address the social service needs of Ngorongoro division to prevent impending humanitarian crises,” Olengurumwa urged. “While continuing their population reduction plans, the government should ensure that residents' rights are not compromised.”
The statement also criticized the recent dissolution of several villages in the area. On June 26, 2024, Minister of Local Government, Hon. Mohamed Omary Mchengerwa, signed an amendment order altering administrative boundaries, which was formalized in Government Notice No. 673 of August 2, 2024. This order dissolved 11 wards, 25 villages, and 96 sub-villages, affecting over 110,000 people according to the 2022 census.
The coalition has called for the immediate reversal of this order, urging the relevant authorities to restore the affected villages and include them as voting centers to ensure the residents can exercise their electoral rights.
“We demand that Government Notice No. 673 of 2024 be revoked as it contravenes constitutional provisions, laws, and international treaties that Tanzania has ratified,” Olengurumwa declared.
Furthermore, the coalition is calling on the Independent National Electoral Commission to visit Ngorongoro to update the voter register in preparation for the upcoming 2024 and 2025 elections.
“We urge the Minister of Local Government to annul the recent administrative changes and for the Electoral Commission to restore voter registration in Ngorongoro,” Olengurumwa concluded.
This coordinated effort highlights the urgent need for governmental intervention and underscores the broader implications for human rights and democratic participation in the region.