BURKA COFFEE HANDS OVER 23 ACRES TO MAASAI COMMUNITY
By Joseph Ngilisho | ARUSHA
The handover, conducted in Elerai Ward, Arusha City, follows an agreement between the company and the community, represented by the Maasai Traditional Leaders Council of Tanzania (MARYA), to resolve longstanding challenges surrounding the use of the land.
Speaking during the ceremony, Burka Coffee Estate director Alex Rechsteiner said the Maasai community had used the forest area for decades to conduct various cultural and traditional activities, while maintaining a peaceful relationship with the company.
He said the two sides had coexisted peacefully for many years, respecting each other's activities until changes in land use, linked to urban expansion, began to create challenges.
According to him, the shift from agricultural use towards urban development brought competing interests, with the company seeking to manage its land while the Maasai community sought to preserve access to an area central to its cultural practices.
Rechsteiner said earlier efforts to resolve the matter through discussions had failed to produce a lasting solution, prompting the company to seek government guidance.
However, after those efforts proved unsuccessful, the company decided to engage directly with community representatives, paving the way for negotiations that eventually resulted in the agreement to allocate the 23 acres for traditional activities.
“This agreement is a major achievement, given the difficulties surrounding the situation. It has been made possible by the genuine commitment and determination of both sides to find a solution,” he said.Rechsteiner thanked Maasai traditional leaders, including Meijo Ole Kisongo, Lepoke and Ze Lokumai, for their time and efforts in facilitating the negotiations.
He also expressed appreciation to Burka Coffee Estate shareholders for supporting the process, as well as the company's team for their role in resolving the dispute.
Special recognition was given to Ally Ole Morindat, whom Rechsteiner credited with helping bring the two sides together, offering advice and guiding discussions towards an agreement.
He said Morindat's diplomacy, patience and listening skills played an important role in building trust and understanding between the company and the community.
A representative of the Arusha Regional Secretariat, speaking at the ceremony, underscored the importance of protecting cultural traditions, saying the preservation of heritage should be a priority for all communities, regardless of their ethnic backgrounds.
The representative said the regional cultural festival, which had been scheduled to take place, was postponed until next month due to other engagements involving visitors in the region. However, the regional administration remained represented at the handover ceremony.
The representative further called for respect for the cultures of different ethnic communities and support for initiatives that enable them to preserve their heritage.
The handover marks an important step towards strengthening relations between Burka Coffee Estate and the surrounding Maasai community, demonstrating how dialogue and mutual understanding can help resolve land-use challenges while safeguarding cultural rights and traditions.
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