Linked is an interesting interview with Moringe ole Parkipuny, the former MP for the Ngorongoro District, who has been fighting for the rights of the unheard Tanzanians for years. Because of his vocal disagreements about land disputes, Maasai treatment, and the Otterlo Business Corporation, he has been subjected to years or targeting by the government. About ten years ago, there was an assassination attempt.

Below are some of the interview questions I found most interesting:

Q: How did the Otterlo Business Corporation of the United Arab Emirates get the infamous hunting permit in the Loliondo Game Controlled Area in 1992?

A: Theoretically it was OK. The Otterlo Business Corporation (OBC) is a bona fide enterprise, and hunting is allowed in Tanzania by law. The Loliondo Game Controlled Area is one of many hunting blocks in the country. An American could have taken it. A European could have taken it. A Tanzanian could have taken it. An Arab took it. So what is wrong about that? That it was Arabs who got the hunting permit?

What is wrong is the strong suspicion that corruption was involved in securing the permit. It is the corruption which is bad. By corruption I mean the "Loliondogate Scandal". It is well documented.

Q: There are allegations that the police in Loliondo have been shooting people. That some have even died. How far are these true?

A: It is true that there is a ridiculous situation here in Loliondo. A couple of people have been gunned down by the police and the government has done nothing against the culprits. Of course the police will not admit that they have committed a crime. This being a typical rural community, the relatives of the victims have not dared to come out and make claims against the police. They are scared. They cannot confront the police and ask: "Why did you shoot my son or my brother?" This is a fact. It is a very serious problem here.

I am a survivor myself of one such outrageous incident. On 2 May 1993, at 8.30pm, I was driving home from Loliondo town. About 300 metres to the Loliondo police station, which is just on the side of the main road, my car was fired at from the back. The bullet, luckily, did not hit me. It broke the glass of the rear door. It went between my shoulder and ear, and smashed the windscreen.

The policeman who shot at me was known. The police force knew who he was. He got his orders to shoot from the officer commanding the district. No action was taken against him either. I personally conducted investigations into the case and went to the High Court of Tanzania to sue the government. The judge ruled that it was definitely a politically-motivated assassination attempt.

Q: Why would anyone want to assassinate you?

A: In the language of the state, I am a trouble maker. If you don't conform, if you speak your mind, if you stand up against the misdeeds of corrupt officials, if you defend the rights of the marginalised, then they label you as a troublemaker. I have been working for my people for decades. That is why they want to eliminate me.