(Arusha) – A family of six in Monduli District, Arusha Region, has been left homeless after their house was set on fire by individuals believed to be forest officers. The family, living in the Monduli Juu area, was forced to sleep outside for four days following the destruction of their homes. The houses, located within a community forest reserve in Emairete Village, were allegedly built in violation of regulations.
On January 7, 2025, at approximately 12:00 pm, Faraja Mephoroo, the head of the household, said that a group of people arrived at his home, which he later identified as forest officials. The group, accompanied by village leaders and security officers, set fire to three of his houses. Mephoroo, who was out with his livestock at the time, recalled seeing a vehicle speeding toward his house with its lights on, followed by several people running toward his residence.
According to Mephoroo, he hid behind a nearby structure to observe the situation. He watched as his two wives and children were forced to move their belongings outside, where the officials poured petrol on the buildings and set them ablaze. He said he was unable to intervene due to the large number of people involved, and the fire was allowed to spread until the houses and a nearby food store were completely destroyed. The family lost six cattle and three donkeys during the incident.
Mephoroo’s wife, Neyesu, described how she initially feared for her safety when she saw the group approaching. As they demanded that she and her family move their belongings, they told her that the house was being destroyed because it was located within the forest reserve. Despite pleading for more time to prepare, Neyesu said they were forced to remove their belongings, including beds and food, before the fire started.
This was not the first time the family faced such challenges. Mephoroo mentioned that their previous house had been demolished in 2018, and again in 2021, both times due to disputes over the land’s location within the forest reserve.
When asked about the incident, Monduli District’s natural resources officer, Adili Mwanga, stated that the matter was being handled by the village office and that further information could be obtained from them. Mboyo Kaiyai, the Chairman of Emairete Village, explained that the decision to destroy the homes was made after numerous unsuccessful attempts to convince the family to relocate. The village leadership claimed that the family had been warned multiple times, yet continued to build homes in the forest reserve, an area crucial for preserving local resources, especially during dry seasons. They also accused the family of damaging the forest by cutting down trees and allowing livestock to graze on the native grasslands, threatening the environment for future generations.
Kaiyai added that even the day before the incident, they had visited the family to give a final warning, but the family fled the area, leaving them with no choice but to proceed with the demolition to prevent others from following their example.
On January 11, 2025, Festo Kiswaga, the District Commissioner for Monduli, stated that he had no prior knowledge of the house being burned. He promised to investigate the matter as soon as he returned from his travels and emphasized that taking the law into one’s own hands, such as by setting fire to a house, is a criminal act. However, he also acknowledged that living within a protected forest reserve is a violation of regulations, and if the family was indeed occupying such an area, they would be held accountable as well.
