Deodatus Mfugale
KILOMBERO valley is on the verge of collapsing and unless stern measures are taken quickly, the generations to come will not see this beautiful God’s creation as our Correspondent Deodatus Mfugale reports in this second and last episode.
A HERDSMAN, Ngasa Madingu, says that it was good to graze on the fringes of the swamp because livestock could eat and drink from the same place. When he was told that the practice might eventually “drive off” the swamp and there would neither be pasture nor water for his cattle, he replied that it was not a problem.
“We will go to another place,” he said. Talk about destruction of waterbodies, Kilombero River itself has not been spared. Journalists took a boat ride about ten kilometres upstream from the ferry point where they saw how livestock graze and drink water on the banks of the river, causing severe erosion.
On the other side of the bank, farmers had also joined in the destruction. Here maize farms and vegetable gardens are only a few inches from the river’s watermark thus compounding siltation.
During the boat ride, journalists also saw big chunks of grass and shrubs floating downstream. “This type of vegetation grows on the river banks and it is both a good breeding site and food for fish. What is floating here has been destroyed by livestock because they graze very close to the banks.
The seriousness of this problem is reflected in the reduced amount of fish landed by fishermen around here. This has resulted in the increase of fish prices in many parts of the district,” explained Mbaraka Barazae from the District Natural Resources Office, who had accompanied the journalists. Looking at the situation, it would appear that the solution to the problem of environmental degradation caused by pastoralists in the Kilombero valley lies beyond earshot.
This has been confirmed by various parties interviewed by the journalists, with local farmers’ communities expressing despair and hopelessness in their lives. Disillusionment is further compounded by the fact that authorities that should have helped the communities solve their problems have abandoned them and the latter have lost confidence and trust in these authorities.
“Authorities give orders that pastoralists should be removed from water sources. But the orders are given during political rallies without ensuring that such orders are followed by written directives.
As such no one implements them because they have no valid justification to do so,” explained Linus Ngwila. “People in this area do not trust governmental officials anymore because they only pay lip service to their problems,” he added.
He was reacting to a journalist’s question who wanted to know what has happened to orders to evict pastoralists with excess livestock from the Kilombero valley. The orders have been given at different times by President Jakaya Kikwete, then Morogoro Regional Commissioner and more recently Kilombero District Commissioner Eng. Evarist Ndikiro.
He explained that government officers merely make political pronouncements to please a section of the public but lack the guts to take action “as a result of which people no longer fear the government and do not respect the laws of the land.”
On his part, Michael Sambalo said that the government is aware of the problems which exist in Kilombero valley and it is working to find solutions. “Pastoralists are a big problem here. But governments are like that – they take time to respond to issues — and in the meantime things might grow out of proportion,” he explained, adding :
“People in this district, particularly the farmers, are desperate; their lives are hopeless. Whenever they rise up against pastoralists they are beaten and they have nowhere to go and seek justice because the latter have financial power which they use to corrupt the cause of justice. But I think we have to be patient with the government; they will take appropriate action.”
In an interview with the journalist after their tour of the district, Acting District Executive Director Freddy Eliasaph conceded that pastoralist are a big problem that seems to be growing out of hand mainly due to politics but also partly due to the manner in which the pastoralists arrive into the district.
“They come from different directions walking with their large herds through the bush; they don’t use any road or known path. Others transport their herds in trucks during the night.
Whatever means they use to enter Kilombero valley eventually they settle deep in the jungle where it is not easy for authorities to see them. Their movements are difficult to monitor and control,” he explained.
Mr Eliasaph threw part of the blame to village government leaders saying that in most cases they know the arrival of the pastoralists and where they hide “but the government officials are weak and can easily be bribed and eventually leave the pastoralists alone.”
However, he said that the district council has started removing some of the pastoralists but hastened to say that the exercise is recording little success due to political interference. “Last year Prime Minister Mizengo Pinda ordered that we stop the eviction of pastoralists from this area.
The directive was further stressed by then minister for regional administration and local governments, Celina Kombani. These orders have not been lifted and we cannot defy them,” he said.
The Acting Director said he was disappointed that politicians have remained undecided while wanton destruction of natural resources is going on in the district. “Let them give us the freedom to remove the excess livestock from the whole valley.
We will do it efficiently and observe rules and regulations governing such operations. Let us leave politics out of this and help to conserve the natural resources for the benefit of this country, otherwise we should put a maximum of ten years as the remaining lifespan of the Kilombero valley and its unique resources,” he stressed.
Information derived from other sources in the district showed that the district council had already made surveys to determine the number and location of livestock and how the operation to evict them should be conducted.
According to the sources, about 95 per cent of the district is a game controlled area in which no human or consumptive activity should be undertaken, hence the need to evict the livestock from key areas.
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However, the operation has yet to be conducted due to lack of political will on the part of key government officials. “It has nothing to do with resources needed to do the job. The District Natural Resources and Wildlife Departments can conduct this operation successfully as long as some people do not make noise to protect their hidden interests,” said the source who requested anonymity.
He added that had the government been willing to let the laws and regulations be enforced accordingly, the situation would have been different. “But there is a lot of interference, undue influence, unfounded claims of breach of human rights, and corruption.
It is high time authorities stopped being hypocrites and made firm decisions even if these will hurt their personal interests”, he claimed. While the powers that be continue to turn a blind eye to what is happening in Kilombero valley, the indigenous farmers and fishers who have always cared for the environment continue to suffer from humiliation and loss of livelihoods. With the continued destruction of natural resources, these people will sink deeper into poverty.
(Source: www.allafrica.com )