Coexistence
The four linguistic groups relate to their environment in a different manner. In some cases the livelihoods depend on accessibility to natural resources. The Hadzabe are hunters and gatherers, needing vast land masses to survive. The Datoga, who are nomadic pastoralists have moved in and out of the area for centuries. The Iraqw, who are agro pastoralists, need land for cultivation, as do the Isanzu/Iramba who are agriculturalists. With time, and with increasing population, all of these ways of using the land are coming under pressure, resulting in a growing possibility of conflict between the different groups.
More than 80 participants in the second workshop saw this clearly and decided to include the concept and practice of COEXISTENCE as part of the cultural programme. During the third workshop this idea was even further developed and today the programme focuses on coexistence through development of the 6 pillars: health, education, livelihood, governance, values and environment.
The government of Tanzania is actively involved in and supportive of the processes around the Cultural programme, through their participation in the workshops, as well as through their focus on local government reform and MKUKUTA (poverty reduction strategy) processes. Village meetings and separate trainings on MKUKUTA have already been implemented by the programme, and in the future the programme sees the 5th language group- the government, as a key actor in supporting the four main language groups. The government was defined as a “Fifth language group” by the participants, as a way of expressing the recognition for its deep commitment to the development of the area.
The 6th language group, defined by the participants, is the Haydom Lutheran Hospital. The hospital has for over 50 years emphasised development of the area, and is as such a major influencing actor and therefore a language group of its own, speaking the language of development.