The Tanzanian government has release a statement refuting claims by the media that 40 000 Maasai people were to be evicted from their land in Ngorongoro in the Arusha region in northern Tanzania.
“The government of United Republic of Tanzania has never had any plan to evict the Maasai people from their ancestral land as falsely reported by the media in recent days,” the statement said. “The information circulated through the media outlets globally was misleading, malicious and meant to tarnish the image of our country and her international standing.”
The Minister of Natural Resources and Tourism, Lazaro Nyalandu said the claims were false, unfounded and baseless. “The argument that the land in question is being sold to a wealthy, Middle Eastern family is a total fabrication and contrary to the Tanzanian law.”
Members of Parliament for land, natural resource, and environment are due to visit the Loliondo area, a village situated in Ngorongoro District to speak directly to the Maasai people. Minister Nyalandu will also be leading a team of government officials and media houses to visit in the next few days.