Where are we

LISO is based in Seloto village, Dareda ward, Dareda division, Babati district,
Manyara region. Manyara was split off from Arusha region in 2003.
Up till November 2005 Dareda and Bashanet used to be one division (Bashanet division).

We are some 200 km South from Arusha town, which is still our nearest major town, which we need for car spares etc. Our regional capital Babati is some 30 km to our East.
image of a brother and sister


THE AREA AND ITS PEOPLE


The project area is Bashanet Division in Babati District, Manyara Region, which split off from Arusha Region in July 2002, with Babati town as its capital. The LISO office is some 200 km from Arusha town (7 hours by public transport) or 30 km from Babati town (1.5 hours by public transport). Bashanet division, one out of four in Babati District, is divided into 6 wards, with a total of 24 villages and a total population of some 100,000 people.

The main tribe is the Iraqw, a Cushitic tribe related to the Amharic in Ethiopia. Main occupations are small scale agriculture and free-range livestock keeping. The average annual income, in cash and kind, is US$ 100 - 150. A major problem is unemployment. Many people seek refuge from joblessness in alcoholism. This combined with the facts that sex is regularly used as a means of payment, and rape is a considerable problem, means that HIV infection is on the rampage. Yet, few people take preventive measures. The major killer in the area is malaria, though people are aware that deaths from AIDS are increasing in numbers, though hidden.

A few villages in Bashanet Division have access to grid electricity, mobile telephony is rapidly overtaking the old fixed net, in the few village that were connected anyway. Tap water is available in parts of about a third of the villages as well. Bashanet village has a post agency, while the major post office is in Babati town. There is one fairly well equipped hospital in the area and one big health centre that delivers almost the same services as the hospital. Further there are several small dispensaries. The nearest police station is in Babati town. Therefore the village executive secretary has major law enforcement powers, and commands an unarmed militia. Furthermore the gathering of tribal elders can judge and fine a person and their verdict is respected by court.

Most people in this area follow Christian denominations, with the majority of them being Roman Catholic, followed by Lutherans. Many habits and rituals practiced still refer to strongly rooted traditional beliefs.