_Encourages environmental conservation, participatory management, improved social services, and reduction of human–wildlife conflicts._
By Our Correspondent, Ngorongoro
Following the conclusion of Tanzania’s 2025 General Election and the election of new councillors in wards located within the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, the Conservation Commissioner of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area Authority (NCAA), Abdul-Razaq Badru, has begun a series of ward-to-ward visits to meet councillors and local residents across the division.
The visits aim to strengthen relations between the Authority and local communities, listen to their challenges, and work together to find solutions that support sustainable conservation while ensuring safe and dignified livelihoods for residents.
Commissioner Badru began his tour in Endulen Ward on Saturday, 20 December 2025, where he met with the ward councillor, Hon. Dr Elias Sakara Nagol. Their discussions focused on strengthening collaboration in enforcing laws, improving access to social services through funds allocated by the Authority, and addressing human–wildlife conflict.
“I will continue to visit wards within the conservation area whenever possible to engage with leaders at ward and village levels so that together we can develop strategies for safe coexistence and jointly address our challenges,” Commissioner Badru said.
In Endulen Ward, the Authority is already implementing several development projects, including a water supply project that, once completed, will improve access to water in several villages, easing shortages for both people and livestock. The Authority also supports fuel for generators in the area and provides educational assistance to children from low-income families.
Other ongoing water projects across Ngorongoro Division include borehole drilling in the wards of Kakesio, Endulen, Nainokanoka, and Olbalbal. We expect these projects to significantly reduce water shortages for communities and livestock once completed.
Ms Esupat Saitoti, a resident of Ngorongoro Division, said the ongoing efforts to improve services and hold joint meetings have helped reduce tensions between Authority rangers and local residents.
“We are truly grateful for the current efforts. Authority leaders have been close to the community, and whenever we need them, they are available and willing to engage with us,” said Mr Emmanuel Ole Saitoti Joseph, a resident of Endulen.
The Authority also plans to collaborate with the Tanzania Rural and Urban Roads Agency (TARURA) to address transportation challenges by improving internal roads within the conservation area so they remain passable throughout the year. The Authority has already made similar improvements on the road that connects Ngorongoro Ward, Misigyo, Endulen, and Kakesio to Meatu.
Ngorongoro Division is home to 25 villages located within the conservation area, where conservation and daily life are deeply interconnected. As Commissioner Badru’s ward-to-ward tour continues, it is expected to strengthen mutual understanding, reinforce respect for laws and regulations, and foster practical collaboration between community leaders, residents, conservation officers, and service providers. The initiative signals a renewed commitment to participatory conservation, one that balances environmental protection with the safety, dignity, and wellbeing of the people who call Ngorongoro home.
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