Serengeti High Way -“The Principle of State Sovereignty over Natural Resources in Jeopardy ”

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Part Two
Dear readers after reading part one of this analytical work, part two of this work brings you more infomations on the effort taken by various goverment instutions to realize and put this project into reality.The United Republic of Tanzania has various decision making bodies, these include: The Assembly of District Ward Councilors, the Parliment of Tanzania, responsible ministries, the President’s Office and in this regard Tanzania National Road Agency. My research shows that all these key bodies without any reservation, are strongly suporting the construction of Musoma to Arusha road.Therefore, the decision to construct Musoma to Arusah road is purely decision of the people and whoever goes contrary to this is a traitor and betrayer of our people.If any foreign animal point a fingure against this, automaticaly that action quantify to an agreession against state sovereignity over natural resources. And if this becomes obvious , it may instigate constant reprisal from the benefitiary of the road.
Part two of this analytical work has been designed to show you that, the goverment of Tanzania is serious on this and has never planned to destroy serengeti by building tarmac road on it, by going through the following adminsrative decisions. President Kikwete told the World Bank this year the following:

“Contrary to what some people are saying and rumours being circulated everywhere, my government has never decided to build a tarmac road through the Serengeti,"

President Kikwete emphasized that,Tanzania is planning to significantly reduce the length of the current road passing through the Serengenti National Park. The president said that currently a 220-kilometre unpaved road is running through the Serengeti and that the government is planning to reduce it to only 54 kilometres that will pass through the National Park and those 54 kilometres will remain unpaved.

"Currently, 220 kilometres of road are passing through Serengeti National Park, right in the middle of the Park. And there is huge traffic crossing in the park with large trucks and huge buses. We are unhappy with this situation.” Said Kikwete.

President Kikwete was quoted saying the same story several times, and this manifests that the people of Tanzania through their top leaders have decided to inform the world that we need to conserve serengeti plains by reducing the current 220 km that cut at the middle of the park to 54 km.

“We want to reduce the length of road going through the Serengeti to only 54 kilometres passing mainly through the northern trip of the Park," said President Kikwete.

We should all remember that, currently hundreds of vehicles are going through the park from Arusha to Loliondo and from Musoma to Arusha.Therefore the current project aims to reduce the flow of traffic passing in the park.That is to say, 54 km at the northern trip of the park between Lolosokwan and Tabora B will remain unpaved for the safety of migratory animals. After construction of this road, the main objective of transforming both economicaly and socialy those poor communities around the park will be realized.

This informs us that the goverment is very commited on this project, despite the fact there are so many baseless allegation, dictation and accusation against the state by various states, foreign and local institutions. President Kiwete reiterated;

"Some of the accusations against the Tanzania government on this issue are quite absurd. People sit in Dar es Salaam and listen to baseless allegations advanced by institutions which are paid to say bad things about our government."

After a comprehensive analysis of the role of the President on this, let us turn back to the Parliament of Tanzania and discuss their position on this matter.In 2009 and 2010 the construction of Musoma –loliondo to Arusha road was highly debated. Among others, the following MPs were very vocal on this matter; Nimron Mkono (Musoma Rural), Vedastu Manyinyi (Musoma Urban) and Saning’o Oletelele Ngorongoro. Responding to the questions raised by the mentioned MPs the responsible minister had this to say:

“Hoja hii ilitolewa na Mheshimiwa Vedastusi Mathayo Manyinyi, Mheshimiwa Kaika Telele; na hapa tunatoa majibu ya kwamba katika mwaka wa fedha wa 2009/2010, Serikali imetenga shilingi bilioni 1.55. Katika fedha hizo, shilingi bilioni 400, kwa ajili ya kuendelea na usanifu wa kina na shilingi bilioni 1.15 zitatumika kwa
ajili ya matengenezo mbalimbali. Aidha katika mwaka wa fedha wa 2008/2009 kiasi cha shilingi bilioni 1.3 zitatengwa kwa jili ya usanifu wa kina na uandaaji wa nyaraka za zabuni. Mchakato wa kumpata Mhandisi Mshauri, haukukamilika katika mwaka wa fedha wa 2008/2009, badala yake mchakato utakamilika mwezi Julai mwaka huu. This matter was raised by Hon. Vedastus Mathayo Manyinyi and Hon.Kaikai Telele; we are hereby providing answers for this financial here 2009/2010, the government allocated T.Sh. 1.55 billion for maintanance.However in the fiscal year 2008/2009 T.Sh. 1.3 billion was specificaly allocated for feasibility study.The whole procurement process to obtain advisory engineer failed to mature in the fiscal year 2008/2009, instead the process will be completed in the fiscal year 2009/2010.”

Additionally, during the 2010 parliamentary sessions Ngorongoro MP. Hon.Saning’o Oletelele asked a similar question to the Minister for Road and Infrastructure as follows;

‘Kwa kuwa moja kati ya vigezo vya kuhakikisha maendeleo ya uchumi na ustawi wa jamii ni pamoja na kuwa na miundombinu ya barabara na kwa kuwa tarehe 20 Machi, 2007 Mheshimiwa Rais wa Jamhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania, aliahidi barabara kupitia Mto wa Mbu – Engasero – Loliondo kutengenezwa kwa kiwango cha lami. Je, ni lini ahadi hiyo itatekelezwa?-Knowing that reliable road infrastructure is the key factor for assuarance of quick economic and social advancements, 20th July,2007 President Kikwete promised the construction of tarmac road from Loliondo –Mto wa Mbu.When will this promise be realized?”

The Minister responded as folows;
Mheshimiwa Spika, Serikali inaendelea kutekeleza ahadi zake ikiwa ni pamoja na maandalizi ya kujenga barabara ya Mto wa Mbu – Engasero – Loliondo kwa kiwango cha lami. Mpango wa ujenzi wa barabara hiyo ulikwisha andaliwa na kazi ya upembuzi yakinifu kwa ajili ya ujenzi wa barabara hii kwa kiwango cha lami hivi sasa imekamilika. Vile vile mkataba wa usanifu wa kina ulitiwa saini tarehe 26 Agosti, 2009 na kazi za
usanifu zinaendelea.Hon.Speaker, the govermment continous to implement some of its promises, and the Loliondo to Arusha via Mtoambu is among.The plan for that road is ready and the the feasibility study for the the said project is completed.Morever, the cotract for technical study is on progress since 26th, August,2009.
Another house of representatives that discussed this matter keenly is the meeting of ward councilors who met in Serengeti this year.Concilors from nine disricts expected to be the first beneficiaries of the disputed road among other things came out with the folowing resolutions;
“Sisi viongozi wa Halmashauri za Serikali za Mitaa kutoka Mkoa wa Mara, Halmashauri za Serengeti,Bunda,Musoma,Rorya,Manispaa ya Musoma na Halmshauri za Tarime,Ngorongoro na Monduli tumekutana leo hii tarehe 08/2/2011 katika mji wa Mugumu amabao ni makao makuu ya wilaya ya Serengeti kujadili na kuunga mkono uamuzi wa Raisi wa Jamhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania Mheshimiwa Jakaaya Mrisho Kikwete juu ya Uamuzi wake wa kujenga barabara ya Mto wa Mbu –Loliondo –Mugumu hadi Mjini Musoma.” We leaders of Local Goverment Councils in Mara Region, District Councils of Bunda,Musoma,Serengeti,Rorya, Musoma Municipal and District Councils of Tarime,Ngorongoro and Monduli have met today 8th February, 2011 in Mugumu town which is the capital town of Serengeti District to among other things discuss and support the decision of the president of the United Republic of Tanzania Hon. Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete of constructing a road from Musoma to Arusha via Mugumu and Loliondo”
The local goverment leaders’s meeting requested all who are protesting the road to come out with practicable solutions that can mitigate the enviromental damage when the road is constructed instead of prostesting the construction of the road.This looks possible because it is very easy to control the distance of 54 km than 220 km.The control can be in form of time control, speed control, constant patrol, instalation of control gates as well as type and number of vehicles.
Fathermore, Tanzania Road Agency (TANROADS) managed to conduct several studies measuring the feasibility of the project. For instance technical advisory commitee has been formulated to among other things advise on the best project implimentation practices such as proper mitigation measures for negative impact and and enviromental management plan.
The Enviromental Impact Assesment Report released by TANROADS indicates that the project will serve as alternative route to the current route through Butiama,Natta,Ikoma gate, via Seronera,across Serengeti National Park and Ngorongoro Conservation Area to Karatu.The present route has great negative impact to national heritage.
The EIA report indicates that the project has both negative and positive impacts.However, the reports shows that the negative impacts can be mitigated.The reports emphasised that the upgrading of the road to bitumen standard is the best option compared to the existing gravel road.About 300,000 USD will be required to mitigate potential enviromental impact.
Without considering or respecting the United Republic of Tanzania and its people, United Nation Education , Social and Caltural Organization (UNESCO) and International Union for the Conservation of Nature( IUCN) continued to mislead the world on this matter. For instance, in the UNESCO report, dated 01 June 2010, ahead of the World Heritage Committee’s 25 July-03 August meeting in Brasilia, Brazil – Ref. WHC-10/34.COM/7B – it was stated:
“The World Heritage Centre and IUCN consider that, if built, the North Road could critically impact the property’s Outstanding Universal Value and justify its inscription on the List of World Heritage in Danger.”
The two bodies, IUCN and UNESCO jointly went ahead and proposed southern route as alternative route to northern route.This act amounts to disrespect and total interference of internal affairs.These two bodies have no legal status to question development programs of an independent country like Tanzania.Tanzania is absolutely sovereign to use it natural resources as it wishes without causing any nuisance to the rest of the world.UNESCO, IUCN and other organization can only sende their recomendation and advise to the government of Tanzania and not this sort of subjugation.
Distingushed readers, those are vivid examples showing the position of the government instutions on this matter.It is obvious that goverment officials and local goverment leaders who represent the community are strongly supporting the project.This implies that the government of Tanzania and its people are on the same track.Therefore,if this is the decision of the people of United repbllic of Tanzania, whoelse has legal status to question the implementation of this project? And whoever tries to do so , he/she may be putting her/himself in a tussle with the people of Tanzania and their goverment. I therefore , advise all instutions, states and individuals who are protesting the construction of Musoma to Arusha road to stop doing so and instead join us to find proper ways to mitigate few of the mentioned negative impacts.Please find part three of this analytical work.

By Onesmo Olengurumwa
Vice President Ngorongoro Elites Association NDUSA-ndusa@gmail.com

Serengeti High Way -“Kanuni ya Uhuru wa Nchi Kutumia Maliasili Hatarini"

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Sehemu ya Kwanza
Mbuga ya Serengeti ambayo inaaminika kuhifadhi aina muhimu ya wanyama Duniani, ilitangazwa kuwa Hifadhi ya Taifa mwaka 1951 na kufanyiwa marekebisho ya mipaka mwaka 1959.Na ifadhi ndogo ya wanyama ya Maswa iliunganishwa na hifadhi ya asili Serengeti-Ngorongoro mwaka 1981. Kupitia Shirika la Kimataifa la Elimu na Utamaduni (UNESCO), Serengeti iliingizwa katika orodha ya Maeneo ya Uridhi wa dunia mwaka 1981.Jamii ya Kimasaai iliyokuwa inaishi katika sehemu kubwa ya wilaya ya Ngorongoro -wakati ule Maasai Province walilazimishwa kuhama maeneo ya serengeti ili kupisha upanuzi wa ifadhi ya serengeti mnamo mwak1959.Sehemu hii ya kwanza ya makala hii imelenga kukuelimisha mambo ya msingi kuhusu uhuru wa mataifa kutumia mali asili bila kuingiliwa(Permanent Sovereignty over natural resources) hasa tunapozungumzia mpango wa serikali wa kuwajengea barabara ya lama ya kuwaunganisha wananchi wa Mikoa ya Mara na Arusha .

Tukumbuke kuwa mpango huu wa kujenga barabara hii ya kutoka Musoma kupitia Loliondo hadi Arusha ulikuwa ni mpango wa Serikali tangu mwaka 1980.Serikali ya Raisi Nyerere kipindi kile ilishindwa kutekeleza mradi huu kutokana shinikizo la wakubwa toka nje.Mpango huu ulipata pigo la kwanza na kuiacha serikali ikiduwaa toka kwa Benki ya Dunia miaka 20 iliyopita.Benki hii ya dunia ilitumia uwezo wake wa kifedha kuishinikiza serikali ya Tanzania kuacha mara mmoja mpango wa barabara hiyo.Cha kushangaza zaidi Benki ya Dunia ilitumia repoti yake ya tathimini ya mazingira kuhalalisha hoja yao ya kuzuia maendeleo kwa watanzania kwa watanzania wa mikoa hiyo miwili.Kwa miaka mingi sasa ukoloni wa kileo umekuwa ukitumia fursa mbalimabali kutenganisha kati ya uhifadhi mazingira na malenngo ya maendeleo ya jamii.Wanaharakati wengi wanaotetea maslahi yao katika suala la mazingira walitumia nafasi hii pia kupokonya uhuru wa Tanzania kupanga mipango yake ya maendeleo.



Mara tu baada ya kushika hatamu ya uongozi wa serikali awamu ya nne waziri mkuu mstaafu Edward Lowassa na raisi Kikwete walilibua upya , tena kwa uzalendo mkubwa mpango huu wa barabara ya Musoma-Arusha. Lengo kubwa la kuwepo kwa barabara hii ni kuunganisha wilaya za Serengeti, Musoma na Loliondo kwenye mkondo wa barabara za kitaifa.Mpango huu wa barabara Musoma –Arusha kupitia Loliondo ni mpango ambao upo kwenye mpango wa miaka kumi ya maendeleo ya barabara nchini.Mwaka 2010 Serikali ya Jamhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzaia ilidhinisha mpango huu rasmi kwa ajili ya ujenzi wa barabara ya Musoma –Arusha yenye gharama ya dola za kimarekani millioni $480 ambazo ni sawa ni bilioni 648,000,000,000/=.

Kama kawaida, mpango huu wa serikali wa kuwaletea wananchi wake maendeleo yao kwa kuwajengea barabara unaendelea kupata shambulizi toka kwa mataifa mbali mbali, mashirika ya kimataifa yanayojiita watetezi wa mazingira, watu binafsi pamoja na baadhi ya mashirika yasiyo ya kiserkali yanafanya kazi hapa nchini.Cha kusikitisha zaidi, baadhi ya haya makampuni kama vile kampuni ya Frankfurt Zoological Society yamekuwa yakifanya kazi zao kwa muda mrefu hapa nchini.Serikali yetu imekuwa ikiwakumbatia wawekezaji hawa pasipokujua kuwa leo wangekuja kutunushia serikali yetu misuli pale inapopanga mipango yake ya maendeleo.


Baadhi ya wahafidhina hao wanaoping maendeleo ya jamii walienda mbali na kutamka kuwa serengeti ipo chini ya UNESCO , hivyo Tanzania haina uwezo wa kufanya chochote.Suala hili liliuchoma moyo wangu na kuamua kuzungumza kupitia makala hii.

Wapendwa wasomaji na wananchi watiifu wa Tanzania, naomba awali ya yote katika sehemu hii ya kwanza nitumia fursa hii kuwaelimisha juu ya mambo kadhaa kuhusu uridhi wa dunia na uhuru wa nchi kutumia rasilimali zake.Urithi wa kiutamaduni ni jumuiko la vitu vyeye thamani ya kidunia kutokana na historia, sanaa au sayansi; baadhi ya vitu hivi ni pamoja masalio ya vitu vya kale, kazi za sanaa,majengo, maandishi na mapango. Mifano ya uridhi huu hapa Tanzania ni: Mji Mkongwe,Majengo ya Kilwa na Mnara wa Songo.Uridhi wa mali asili unamaanisha vitu vyote vya kiasilia vyenye thamani kidunia na vilivyotekea kutokana na mfumo na mabadiliko dunia ya kimaumbile na kibaiolojia.Mifano ya mali asili hii hapa Tanzania ni: Hifadhi ya Mlima Kilimanjaro, Hifadhi ya Serengeti, Hifadhi ndogo ya Selou na Hifadhi ya Ngorongoro.

Uhuru kwa mtazamo huu inamaanisha uwezo wa nchi yoyote ile kujitawala na kutengeza sheria na mipango yake ya maendeleo bila kushurutishwa au kuingiliwa na chombo chochote au nchi nyingine.Uhuru wa nchi juu ya rasilimali zake unamaanisha kuwa inchi inahaki ya kutumia rasilimali zake bila kuingiliwa au kushurutishwa.Kwa kutambua haki hii kwa mataifa, mazimizio kadhaa ya kusisitiza haki hii yalipitishwa miaka ya 1960 na Mkutano Mkuu wa Umoja wa Mataifa.Umoja wa Mataifa walitambua haki hii kama haki muhimu kwa nchi yoyote ile kijitawala.Na hatimaye Umoja wa Mataifa walipitisha azimio numba 1803 (xvii) mwaka 1962 ili kuipa nguvu haki hii katika nyanja ya kimataifa.Mkutano huo wa Kimataifa ulikubaliana kama ifuatavyo;
“Haki ya mataifa na watu kuwa huru kutumia rasilimali zao na utajiri wao lazima utekelezwe kwa kuzingatia maslahi ya maendeleo yao na ustawi wa wananchi wa mataifa husika”

Azimio hili la Umoja wa Kimataifa katika nyanja hii iliweza kuwa chachu katika mikutano mingi ya kimataifa. Mfano, mwaka 1966 kanuni hii ya uhuru wa rasilimali iliingizwa rasmi katika mikataba mbali mbali ya kimataifa ikiwemo mkataba ule wa Haki za Kiuchumi, Kijamii na Kitamaduni wa mwaka 1966. Kuanzia miaka ya 1960 Umoja wa Kimataifa ulipitisha zaidi ya maazimio 100 yanayotetea utekelezaji wa kanuni hii ya huru wa rasilimali.Mfano, kanuni ya 21 ya Azimio la Stokholm la mwaka 1972 unasisitiza kuwa:
“Mataifa kwa mujibu wa Mkataba wa Umoja Kimataifa na kanuni za sheria za kimataifa yana haki na uhuru wa kutumia rasilimali zao bila kuingiliwa, na kutumia na kusimamia rasilimali hizo kwa mijibu wa sheria zao na kuhakikisha shughuli zao haziwezi kuleta madhara yoyote kwa mazingira ya nchi zingine au maeneo nje ya mipaka yao”
Kifungu cha 4 cha Mkataba wa UNESCO wa mwaka 1972, unaeleza kuwa jukumu la uhifadhi wa mazingira na uhifadhi wa uridhi wa maliasili na uridhi wa kiutamaduni kwa vizazi vijavyo ni la nchi husika, lakini kwa hiari nchi husika inaweza kuomba msaada kutoka ushirika wa kimataifa na wakapata.
Halikadhalika, mataifa yanatakiwa kufuata masharti yote ya Mkataba wa UNESCO.Tatizo kubwa la makataba huu ni lile la kutambua Uridhi wote wa dunia kama uridhi wa dunia na ni lazima uridhi huo utunzwe kwa manufaa ya wote duniani.
Mkutano wa Umoja wa Kimataifa wa Stokholm wa 1972 wa watu na mazingira, ulikuja na azimio lenye kanuni 26 za sheria za kimataifa za mazingira .Uhusiano kati ya binadamu na mazingira umewekwa bayana katika kanuni ya 1,16 na 21 vya azimio hilo.Kanuni hizo zinasisitiza uhuru wa mataifa kutumia rasilimali zao bila kuharibu mazingira na pia bila kuvunja haki yoyote ya binadamu.
Utekelezeja wa mkataba huu wa UNESCO mara nyingi utekelezaji wake umekuwa ukivunja haki hii ya msingi ya mataifa kutumia rasilimali kwa maslahi ya taifa husika.Hili linawezekana kutokana na kwamba sehemu yoyote ya nchi ikitangazwa kuingia katika orodha wa vitu ambavyo ni uridhi wa dunia, eneo hilo linakuwa ni rasilimali ya wote na pengine nchi husika kama itakuwa legelege huenda ikapoteza uhuru wa kusimamia eneo hilo kwa mijibu wa sheria na mipango yake.
Baada ya eneo kutangazwa huwa chini ya sheria za kimataifa na sheria za nchi., lakini sheria zetu mara nyingi zimekuwa zikizidiwa kutokana na ukandamizaji na jeuri ya fedha za wakubwa.Mfano wa maeneo ambayo nchi kwa sasa inapelekea kukosa uhuru wa kufanya inaloona ni sahihi kwa maslahi ya umma ni Hifadhi ya Ngorongoro na Serengeti.Mapema mwaka 2009, UNESCO ilitishia kuitoa Bonde la Ngorongoro kwenye orodha ya uridhi wa dunia kama haitafuata masharti yao. Il kuwaridhisha, Naibu Waziri Maliasili wa wakati ule Mh.Ezekiel Maige alisikia askisema:
“Tayari tumeshaanza kutoa majukumu kwa wahusika kujua idadi ya watu na mifugo kaika eneo hilo ili tuweze kuchukua hatua zinazostahili.”
Hii inadhirisha kuwa mkataba wa UNESCO inakinzana na kanuni ya uhuru wa rasilimali.Mbaya zaidi vifungu vya mkataba wa UNESCO kwa sasa unatumika na baadhi ya taasisi za kizushi na zisizojulikana pamoja na wachache wennye njaa kupinga mpango wa serikali kujenga barabara ya Musoma hadi Arusha kupitia Loliondo. Lakini katiba ya Jamhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania ibara ya 9 inasisitiza kuwa:
“Kama suala la kisera , rasilimali zote za nchi zitatumika kuleta maendeleo ya watu na hasa kupunguza umasikini, ujinga na maradhi, huku utu wa binadamu ukizingatiwa na kulindwa kama inavyoelezwa na Azimio la Kimataifa la Haki za Binadamu”
Pia katiba ya Tanzania inaweka bayana kuwa rasilimali za nchi za nchi zitumike kupunguza umasikini bila kuangalia kabila, dini, umri au eneo analo ishi mtu.Hivyo ni kinyume na katiba kuishinikiza serikali kupeleka miradi ya maendeleo kama mradi huu wa barabara upande mmoja wa nchi kwa vigezo vya ulinzi wa mazingira au kigezo cha uchache wa watu.Sababu nyingi zilizotolea na wanaopinga miradi ya serikali hazikubaliki, zipo kinyume na katiba, hazina hoja ya msingi, ni za kizushi na zinakiuka misingi ya haki za binadamu.Sababu hizi zinatokana na ubinafsi na uchu wa fedha wa baadhi ya watu wanaotumia na wakubwa hawa wanaoendeleza ukoloni wa kileo katika nyanja ya mali asili.
Nchi zingine zilifikia hatua kuanzisha siku ya serengeti duniani na kuazimisha katika nchi zao.Mwaka huu siku ya serengeti duniani ili anzimishwa sehemu mbalimbali duniani lakini Tanzania ambayo ndiyo yenye serengeti yenyewe ilikuwa kama vile haijui chochote kinachoendelea. Mfano, nchi jirani ya Kenya waliazimisha siku ya serengeti duniani mwaka huu machi katika viwanja wa Uhuru Park Nairobi huku wakishinikiza barabara ya Musoma Arusha isijengwe.Ndugu wasomaji, je huko sio kuingiliana katika mambo ya ndani ya nchi?
Kama tutaruhusu utawala wa dunia juu ya rasilimali zetu, hakika wananchi hawatakuwa na cha kujivunia.Hali inayoikumba Tanzania kwa sasa iliwahi tokea Wyoming mwaka 1995 dhidi ya Yellow Stone Park pale ambapo kamati ya uridhi wa dunia ya UNESCO kutoka Ulaya waliungana na wanaharakati wa uchwara wa mazingira kupinga shughuli za uchimbaji zilizokuwa zikifanyika Wyoming. Hali kama hii ya utegemezi wa misaada ya kimataifa imegeuka kuwa dhana ya kugandamiza na kupora uhuru wa rasilimali kwa nchi nyingi zinazoendelea.Tanzania kwa miaka mingi imekuwa ikitishiwa na wahisani na mataifa makubwa hasa pale inapopanga mipango yake ya maendeleo kama hili la barabara ya Musoma kwenda Arusha.Mbaya zaidi kifungu cha 26 cha Mkataba wa UNESCO unasisitiza kuwa:

Lakini imekuwa kutambua nini kitakuwa ndani ya makubaliano hayo na uhuru wa nchi husika.Hili linapelekea kuhamisha uhuru wa nchi kusimamia rasilimali zake kwenda kwenye mamlaka ya kimataifa.Katika hali ya utegemezi na misaada wa kimataifa nchi nyingi zinapoteza uhuru juu ya rasilimali za ndani.
Ili kupata maendeleo ya usawa , yanayokizi maslahi ya kimazingira na maendeleo ya watu , ni muhimu mataifa yakawa na utaratibu shirikishi, huru na wa wazi katika mipango ya maendeleo ili kuhakikisha mipango ya utunzaji wa mazingira yanakwenda samba samba na uhitaji wa kuboresha maisha ya wananchi.Hivyo nchi zilizoendelea ziache kuendeshwa na wanaharaki wanaozuka na kujiita watetezi wa mazingira.Pia waache kutumia utajiri wao kuingiliia mambo ya ndani ya nchi.Tunaishauri serikali iendelee na mpango wake wa kujenga barabara ya Musoma –Arusha maana Tanzania ni nchi huru.
By Onesmo Olengurumwa
Makamu wa Raisi Umoja wa Wasomi Ngorongoro- NDUSA
ndusa@gmail.com

Serengeti High Way -“The Principle of State Sovereignty over Natural Resources in Jeopardy ”

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Part One

Serengeti plains which contain dominant species acquired national park status in 1951 with extensive boundary modifications in 1959. While Maswa Game Reserve was included as part of Serengeti-Ngorongoro Biosphere Reserve in 1981. The marginalized Masaai community had to be evicted from Serengeti woodlands to allow the expansion of Serengeti National Park in 1959. United Nation Education and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) included it in the list of World Heritage Site in 1981.Part one of this discussion look forward to comprehensively put on lights some important principles of State Sovereignty over Natural Resources in relation to the long protested Musoma - Loliondo to Arusha High Way.
We should all put in our minds that, the construction of Musoma to Arusha High way was a government plan since 1980. President Mwalimu Nyerere by then failed to implement the plan due to external pressure. The plan was abolished by Wold Bank 20 years ago after basing on recommendation of an enviromental impact assesment carried out by the same organ- WB influenced world radical-enviromentalist for their own interests. For many years, modern colonialists have been bussy trying to amalgamate conservation of natural resources and human development objectives.In this way, it is easy to question the sovereignity of Tanzania over its natural resources.


When Former Prime Minister Lowassa and President Kikwete got into pawer in 2005, the Musoma-via Loliondo to Arusha road construction plan was revisited and reemphasized with alot of confidence and patriotism. The need of this road is to link Serengeti- and Loliondo-Districts to the National grid of major roads. The proposed road is suggested in the Governments 10 years Transport Sector Improvement Program (TSIP). In 2010 the Government of Tanzania approved the so called Serengeti High way road plan to construct a €300 million two lane highway from Musoma via Mugumu, Loliondo, Mtoambu to Arusha.The construction of this road is expected to commence in 2012.


As usual, in 2010 the goverment plan to construct a link road for its people received storm protest from regional and international bodies, govermental and non governmental institutions and individuals from across the world. Sounds outrageous because all of these bodies and individual have no legal status to question the internal affairs of any independent state including Tanzania. Suprisingly, some of these pro-wildlife organizations such as Frankfurt Zoological Society African Wildlife Foundation have been for many years working in Tanzania.The goverment of Tanzania embraced some of these wildlife organizations by giving them red capet treatment , but today they are turning against Tanzania’s development programs for its people.In this regard, it obvious that Tanzania is still colonized in the area of natural resources.


Some of these protestants of human develoment and the so called enviromentalists went ahead by stating that Serengeti National Park is under UNESCO therefore Tanzania can do nothing on it.This astonished me and forced me to pick up a pen and ready to tranform my grievances into this public reading material.

Distingushed readers and humble citizens of Tanzania let me bofore all in this Part one, enrich your minds with few aspects of world heritages versus the sovereignity of states.Cultural heritage is the combinations of features, which are of outstanding universal value from the point of view of history, art or science; these are monuments: architectural works, elements or structures of an archaeological nature, inscriptions, cave dwellings . Examples in Tanzania we have among others the Stone Town, Ruins of Kilwa and Songo Mnara. Natural heritage has been defined as natural features, geological formations and natural sites consisting of physical and biological formations, which are of outstanding universal value from the scientific point of view. Examples of natural heritage sites in Tanzania are Kilimanjaro National parks, Selou Game Reserve,Serengeti National Park and Ngorongoro Conservation area (NCA).

Sovereignty means each state has exclusive jurisdiction within it is territory and to adopt laws and enforce them, adminster the territory and judge dispute there in. The sovereignty rights of states include rights of states to have exclusive rights over their resources. Relevant resolutions were firstly adopted by United Nations General Assembly in the years 1950's as initial stages of recognizing this concept as applied to peoples and nations. United Nations recognized this principle as basis for self determination. As the result, United Nation adopted resolution 1803 (XVII) in 1962 that gave the principle momentum under international law in the decolonization process. The General Assembly agreed that;
“The right of peoples and nations to permanent sovereignty over their natural wealth and resources must be exercised in the interest of their national development and of the well-being of the people of the State concerned."
This remarkable UN resolution in this field continued to draw attentions in UN assemblies. For instance, in 1966 this principle of state sovereignty over natural resources was entrenched in the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) of 1966. Furthermore from 1960’s United Nations adopted about 100 resolutions and declarations emphasizing on this principle. For instance, principle 21 of Stockholm Declaration of 1972 insists that;

‘States have, in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations and the principles of international law, the sovereign right to exploit their own resources pursuant to their own environmental policies, and the responsibility to ensure that activities within their jurisdiction or control do not cause damage to the environment of other States or of areas beyond the limits of national jurisdiction.’


Article 4 of UNESCO World Heritage Convention of 1972 insists ; “the duty of environmental protection and transmission to future generations of the cultural and natural heritage situated on any territory, belongs primarily to that State. It will do all it can to protect its own resources and, where appropriate (this should be clear) with any international assistance and co-operation, which it may be able to obtain.

On the other hand , States are required to adhere to all requirement and provisions of the convention. The UNESCO Convention basis on the recognition that parts of World Heritage of various nations are of outstanding Universal interest and need to be preserved as part of the world heritage of mankind as whole.

In 1972 United Nation Conference on human and environment came up with the declaration commonly called Stockholm Declaration with 26 principles on international environmental law. The link between human being and environmental protection is clearly established by principles 1,16 and 21 of the Stockholm Declaration provide a freedom of states to freely use their resources without any environmental damage and without infringing any human basic rights. Both Rio de Janeiro and Stockholm declarations advocate for permanent sovereignty over natural resources
The UNESCO convention when implemented it infringes some of rights of over natural resources.When a part of any state is included in the list of world heritage, then that part becomes a heritage of all nations regulated by local legislation and international conventions. For in stance in Tanzania we have world heritage sites like Serengeti National Park and Ngorongoro Conservation Area (NCA). Recently in 2009, UNESCO threatens to unlist NCA from the listed World Natural Heritage. UNESCO declared that if people’s activities in Ngorongoro won’t be stopped, Ngorongoro Crater would no longer be classified as World Heritage site. Responding to UNESCO, by then Deputy Minister for Natural Resources and Tourism Ezekiel Maige surprisingly said,

"We have already directed the Ngorongoro Authority to conduct census for both human population and livestock in the areas so that we can take appropriate measures," .

This implies that UNESCO Conventions contradicts with the principle of sovereignty over natural resources.Subsequently, UNESCO’s principles are now quoted and used by dubious and unknown entinties and ravenous individuals to mercilessly protest the contruction of Musoma to Arusha via Loliondo high way. But Article 9 of the Constitution of Tanzania states;
“ as a matter of policy that national resources shall be used for the development of people and in particular used for the eradication of poverty, ignorance and diseases while making sure that human dignity is preserved and upheld in accordance with the spirit of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights”


Moreover, the Constitution of Tanzania stipulates that the resources of the nation should be managed and used towards the eradication of poverty, ignorance and disease for all people, without regard to their colour, age, religion, tribe or station in life.Therefore, it is unconstitutional to invest development programs, including infrastructure progams in other parts of the country in isolation of other parts of the country. Some other grounds given by road protestants are inadmisible, ilogical, inhuman, unconstitutional driven by individual interests sponsored by modern coloniasm over natural resources.
Other countries have gone even to the extent of introducing Serengeti day and celebrate it in their territories.This year Serengeti day was celebrated in different parts of the world but Tanzania which posses Serengeti was in holiday.For instance, Kenya celebrated the world serengeti day at Uhuru park March 2011 with the theme stop the construction of the so called serengeti high way.Dear readers, is this not interference of state’s internal affairs?

If global governance over national resources becomes reality, there will be no place for indigenous to hide. This is similar to what happen in Wyoming in September 1995 over Yellowstone Park when World Heritage Committee members from Europe and Asia appeared in Wyoming to help radical environmentalist fight the environmentally friendly mining company, they claimed and won the right to censure human activity within the entire ecosystem. In other words, "systems thinking" rather than scientific facts. The international assistance has been used a weapon to weaken freedom over natural resources.For many years now Tanzania is undergoing financial threats if it proceed with the plan of constructing Musoma to Arusha High way.Article 26 of UNESCO Convention (supra) stipulates that.

“The World Heritage Committee and the recipient State shall define in the agreement they conclude the conditions in which a programme or project for which international assistance under the terms of this Convention is provided, ….., in observance of the conditions laid down by the agreement.”

What would be in the agreement? No body knows. This is deviation from national sovereignty to global governance. It is from this system of international cooperation as elaborated by Article 7 of UNESCO Convention (supra) that state sovereignty can be in jeopardy. These kind of assistance comes with strong conditions that jeopardizes state sovereignty over natural resources

In order to achieve a more rational management of resources and thus to improve the environment, States should adopt an integrated, independent and coordinated approach to their development planning so as to ensure that conservation programs are compatible with the need to develope and improve the life of their population. I call up all developed nations and international organazations to stop using their financial mighty to undermine the soveregnity of Tanzania over its natural resources.
By Onesmo Olengurumwa
Vice President Ngorongoro Elites Association NDUSA-ndusa@gmail.com
________________________________________
Part One

Serengeti plains which contain dominant species acquired national park status in 1951 with extensive boundary modifications in 1959. While Maswa Game Reserve was included as part of Serengeti-Ngorongoro Biosphere Reserve in 1981. The marginalized Masaai community had to be evicted from Serengeti woodlands to allow the expansion of Serengeti National Park in 1959. United Nation Education and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) included it in the list of World Heritage Site in 1981.Part one of this discussion look forward to comprehensively put on lights some important principles of State Sovereignty over Natural Resources in relation to the long protested Musoma - Loliondo to Arusha High Way.

We should all put in our minds that, the construction of Musoma to Arusha High way was a government plan since 1980. President Mwalimu Nyerere by then failed to implement the plan due to external pressure. The plan was abolished by Wold Bank 20 years ago after basing on recommendation of an enviromental impact assesment carried out by the same organ- WB influenced world radical-enviromentalist for their own interests. For many years, modern colonialists have been bussy trying to amalgamate conservation of natural resources and human development objectives.In this way, it is easy to question the sovereignity of Tanzania over its natural resources.


When Former Prime Minister Lowassa and President Kikwete got into pawer in 2005, the Musoma-via Loliondo to Arusha road construction plan was revisited and reemphasized with alot of confidence and patriotism. The need of this road is to link Serengeti- and Loliondo-Districts to the National grid of major roads. The proposed road is suggested in the Governments 10 years Transport Sector Improvement Program (TSIP). In 2010 the Government of Tanzania approved the so called Serengeti High way road plan to construct a €300 million two lane highway from Musoma via Mugumu, Loliondo, Mtoambu to Arusha.The construction of this road is expected to commence in 2012.


As usual, in 2010 the goverment plan to construct a link road for its people received storm protest from regional and international bodies, govermental and non governmental institutions and individuals from across the world. Sounds outrageous because all of these bodies and individual have no legal status to question the internal affairs of any independent state including Tanzania. Suprisingly, some of these pro-wildlife organizations such as Frankfurt Zoological Society African Wildlife Foundation have been for many years working in Tanzania.The goverment of Tanzania embraced some of these wildlife organizations by giving them red capet treatment , but today they are turning against Tanzania’s development programs for its people.In this regard, it obvious that Tanzania is still colonized in the area of natural resources.


Some of these protestants of human develoment and the so called enviromentalists went ahead by stating that Serengeti National Park is under UNESCO therefore Tanzania can do nothing on it.This astonished me and forced me to pick up a pen and ready to tranform my grievances into this public reading material.

Distingushed readers and humble citizens of Tanzania let me bofore all in this Part one, enrich your minds with few aspects of world heritages versus the sovereignity of states.Cultural heritage is the combinations of features, which are of outstanding universal value from the point of view of history, art or science; these are monuments: architectural works, elements or structures of an archaeological nature, inscriptions, cave dwellings . Examples in Tanzania we have among others the Stone Town, Ruins of Kilwa and Songo Mnara. Natural heritage has been defined as natural features, geological formations and natural sites consisting of physical and biological formations, which are of outstanding universal value from the scientific point of view. Examples of natural heritage sites in Tanzania are Kilimanjaro National parks, Selou Game Reserve,Serengeti National Park and Ngorongoro Conservation area (NCA).

Sovereignty means each state has exclusive jurisdiction within it is territory and to adopt laws and enforce them, adminster the territory and judge dispute there in. The sovereignty rights of states include rights of states to have exclusive rights over their resources. Relevant resolutions were firstly adopted by United Nations General Assembly in the years 1950's as initial stages of recognizing this concept as applied to peoples and nations. United Nations recognized this principle as basis for self determination. As the result, United Nation adopted resolution 1803 (XVII) in 1962 that gave the principle momentum under international law in the decolonization process. The General Assembly agreed that;
“The right of peoples and nations to permanent sovereignty over their natural wealth and resources must be exercised in the interest of their national development and of the well-being of the people of the State concerned."
This remarkable UN resolution in this field continued to draw attentions in UN assemblies. For instance, in 1966 this principle of state sovereignty over natural resources was entrenched in the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) of 1966. Furthermore from 1960’s United Nations adopted about 100 resolutions and declarations emphasizing on this principle. For instance, principle 21 of Stockholm Declaration of 1972 insists that;

‘States have, in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations and the principles of international law, the sovereign right to exploit their own resources pursuant to their own environmental policies, and the responsibility to ensure that activities within their jurisdiction or control do not cause damage to the environment of other States or of areas beyond the limits of national jurisdiction.’


Article 4 of UNESCO World Heritage Convention of 1972 insists ; “the duty of environmental protection and transmission to future generations of the cultural and natural heritage situated on any territory, belongs primarily to that State. It will do all it can to protect its own resources and, where appropriate (this should be clear) with any international assistance and co-operation, which it may be able to obtain.

On the other hand , States are required to adhere to all requirement and provisions of the convention. The UNESCO Convention basis on the recognition that parts of World Heritage of various nations are of outstanding Universal interest and need to be preserved as part of the world heritage of mankind as whole.

In 1972 United Nation Conference on human and environment came up with the declaration commonly called Stockholm Declaration with 26 principles on international environmental law. The link between human being and environmental protection is clearly established by principles 1,16 and 21 of the Stockholm Declaration provide a freedom of states to freely use their resources without any environmental damage and without infringing any human basic rights. Both Rio de Janeiro and Stockholm declarations advocate for permanent sovereignty over natural resources
The UNESCO convention when implemented it infringes some of rights of over natural resources.When a part of any state is included in the list of world heritage, then that part becomes a heritage of all nations regulated by local legislation and international conventions. For in stance in Tanzania we have world heritage sites like Serengeti National Park and Ngorongoro Conservation Area (NCA). Recently in 2009, UNESCO threatens to unlist NCA from the listed World Natural Heritage. UNESCO declared that if people’s activities in Ngorongoro won’t be stopped, Ngorongoro Crater would no longer be classified as World Heritage site. Responding to UNESCO, by then Deputy Minister for Natural Resources and Tourism Ezekiel Maige surprisingly said,

"We have already directed the Ngorongoro Authority to conduct census for both human population and livestock in the areas so that we can take appropriate measures," .

This implies that UNESCO Conventions contradicts with the principle of sovereignty over natural resources.Subsequently, UNESCO’s principles are now quoted and used by dubious and unknown entinties and ravenous individuals to mercilessly protest the contruction of Musoma to Arusha via Loliondo high way. But Article 9 of the Constitution of Tanzania states;
“ as a matter of policy that national resources shall be used for the development of people and in particular used for the eradication of poverty, ignorance and diseases while making sure that human dignity is preserved and upheld in accordance with the spirit of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights”


Moreover, the Constitution of Tanzania stipulates that the resources of the nation should be managed and used towards the eradication of poverty, ignorance and disease for all people, without regard to their colour, age, religion, tribe or station in life.Therefore, it is unconstitutional to invest development programs, including infrastructure progams in other parts of the country in isolation of other parts of the country. Some other grounds given by road protestants are inadmisible, ilogical, inhuman, unconstitutional driven by individual interests sponsored by modern coloniasm over natural resources.
Other countries have gone even to the extent of introducing Serengeti day and celebrate it in their territories.This year Serengeti day was celebrated in different parts of the world but Tanzania which posses Serengeti was in holiday.For instance, Kenya celebrated the world serengeti day at Uhuru park March 2011 with the theme stop the construction of the so called serengeti high way.Dear readers, is this not interference of state’s internal affairs?

If global governance over national resources becomes reality, there will be no place for indigenous to hide. This is similar to what happen in Wyoming in September 1995 over Yellowstone Park when World Heritage Committee members from Europe and Asia appeared in Wyoming to help radical environmentalist fight the environmentally friendly mining company, they claimed and won the right to censure human activity within the entire ecosystem. In other words, "systems thinking" rather than scientific facts. The international assistance has been used a weapon to weaken freedom over natural resources.For many years now Tanzania is undergoing financial threats if it proceed with the plan of constructing Musoma to Arusha High way.Article 26 of UNESCO Convention (supra) stipulates that.

“The World Heritage Committee and the recipient State shall define in the agreement they conclude the conditions in which a programme or project for which international assistance under the terms of this Convention is provided, ….., in observance of the conditions laid down by the agreement.”

What would be in the agreement? No body knows. This is deviation from national sovereignty to global governance. It is from this system of international cooperation as elaborated by Article 7 of UNESCO Convention (supra) that state sovereignty can be in jeopardy. These kind of assistance comes with strong conditions that jeopardizes state sovereignty over natural resources

In order to achieve a more rational management of resources and thus to improve the environment, States should adopt an integrated, independent and coordinated approach to their development planning so as to ensure that conservation programs are compatible with the need to develope and improve the life of their population. I call up all developed nations and international organazations to stop using their financial mighty to undermine the soveregnity of Tanzania over its natural resources.
By Onesmo Olengurumwa
Vice President Ngorongoro Elites Association NDUSA-ndusa@gmail.com