‘BABU LOLIONDO’ NOW ACCUSED OF ENVIRONMENTAL DESTRUCTION.

The  so-called miracle plant ‘Carissa-Edulis’ which was being used by retired Priest, Babu Ambilikile Masapila to brew his magic drink is reportedly disappearing. Dr Freddy Manongi, an expert Botany and Zoological Researcher and former Principal at Mweka Wildlife College said recent studies tracing the effects of the Loliondo brew’s mad-rush  from  2010 to 2012, have revealed massive environmental destruction in Sonjo plains.
	Between October 2010 to April 2012 more than 7 million people from all over Tanzania, the neighboring countries and overseas, were traveling to Samunge Village, in the remote Digo-Digo Ward of Sale Division in Ngorongoro District to get potions of the herbal drink dispensed by Mr Masapila who earned the ‘Babu-wa-Loliondo’ title. It was believed that the ‘Loliondo drink’ could cure practically all forms of human ailments including Cancer, Diabetes and HIV-Aids an allegation  which remains to be proven.                        Ambilikile Masapila The cure was brewed from the barks of the ‘Mriga-riga’ trees scientifically known as ‘Carissa-Edulis’ from the Apocynaceae family, which according to Dr Manongi is now disappearing from the Sonjo plains where the cure was staged. Dr Manongi who has just taken up his post as the new Conservator for the Ngorongoro Conservation Area Authority (NCAA), said Babu-wa-Loliondo and his team were forced to harvest many acres of the plant to satisfy the needs of miracle seekers and as a  result, the ‘Mriga-riga’ tree species are on the verge of extinction.
The other environment disaster associated with the miracle cup, include the massive tons of garbage left behind by millions of people who flocked into Samunge where they sometimes queued for days, waiting for their rounds of drink. "The waste disposed during the Loliondo mad-rush can still be seen today, these include plastic and glass bottles, polythene bags, torn pieces of clothing, discarded utensils and even shells of written off vehicles that failed to endure the wilderness journeys," said Dr Manongi. The former Principal​of the Mweka Wildlife Training Institute in Kilimanjaro Region, D​r Manongi, takes up the NCAA top post from Mr Bruno Kawasange who has been serving as the Acting Conservator for the Tanzania’s most coveted conservation and tourism destination which until now attracts over 500,000 visitors every year. “Ngorongoro has been around for seven million years and is where the first ever human being is scientifically believed to have initially resided, which means heading an institution like this requires much patience knowing it is much older than life itself,” said the new NCAA Conservator. He pointed out that with the prehistoric and original growth of flora and fauna still undisturbed in the vicinity, nature was still very much in control something which must be respected when establishing or reinforcing rules and conditions governing both the institution and the surrounding conservation area. The NCAA which, in addition to the legendary crater and abundant wildlife, is also home to over 85,000 Maasai Pastoralists and continues to act as main gateway to Serengeti National Park (SENAPA), as well as the Loliondo Game Controlled Area (LGC) and Musoma-Mara, through the Loduare Gate. Meanwhile the Council of Workers for the Ngorongoro Conservation Area Authority has conducted a special training aimed at raising or reinforcing awareness on HIV and Aids among members of the NCAA staff which was held in Karatu District and got officially graced by the District Commissioner, Mr Felix Ntibenda. “Karatu is famous for its vibrant night life, and being gateway to the tourism attractions of Ngorongoro and Serengeti, the issue of HIV-Aids cannot be ignored,” reminded DC Ntibenda. Source: (The Arusha times)