Peaceful protests in Ngorongoro pay off as President samia gives directives
Dar es Salaam, Tanzania – The Tanzanian government has responded to growing concerns over the exclusion of residents in Ngorongoro Division from the upcoming 2024 local government elections, insisting that no one has been denied the right to vote. The assurance follows reports that over 100,000 Maasai pastoralists were omitted from the voter register, raising fears of disenfranchisement and human rights violations.
William Lukuvi, Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office (Policy, Parliament, and Coordination), addressed the issue during a meeting with local leaders in Ngorongoro. He emphasized that President Samia Suluhu Hassan had directed that all eligible citizens in Ngorongoro should be allowed to vote. "Each councilor should go to their ward and clarify the President's message that no one has been denied the right to vote. The President has directed that these citizens should vote just like any other citizens," Lukuvi stated.
The controversy arises after a recent government order abolished all wards, villages, and sub-wards in Ngorongoro Division. This decision has left residents uncertain, with many fearing that their voting rights have been effectively stripped away.
A coalition of civil society organizations and human rights defenders in Tanzania on Thursday raised serious concerns about the ongoing human rights situation in the Ngorongoro Division of Arusha Region. Approximately 40,000 residents have engaged in peaceful protests for five consecutive days. The protesters, including women, children, and the elderly, are demanding immediate government intervention to address grievances such as the suspension of essential social services, the abolition of local administrative units, and the denial of their right to vote in the upcoming elections.