Village land rights formalization and equity implications in Tanzania: the cases of Mbozi and Handeni districts
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Date
2015
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Publisher
University of Dar es Salaam
Abstract
This study aimed at exploring and examining the extent of promoting equity in the distribution of and access to land to the diversity of social groups in Handeni and Mbozi Districts in Tanzania. The study applied the Critical Third World Feminist Theory (CTWFT) as it is rich in issues of equity and equality in resources distribution. It used the exploratory and descriptive research design. Multistage systematic random sampling method was used to select a sample of 9 villages (7 and 2 villages from Mbozi and Handeni Districts respectively) from a population 159 villages. Simple random sampling method was used to form a sample of 304 beneficiaries (262 and 42 from Mbozi and Handeni Districts respectively). Data were collected by using in-depth interviews, focus group discussions and archival reviews while analysis was done by using non-parametric methods. Findings show that formalization did not distribute land but rather it included the names of women in the certificates of customary rights of occupancy. It was also found that formalization did not promote equitable distribution of land to other social groups as the approach was based on land rights claims as submitted by the beneficiaries. This study concludes that formalization which relies on land rights claims cannot address the issues of land inequality and thus it is inequitable. It is recommended to the policy makers to conduct land needs assessments in villages to determine actual land needs at household and social groups’ levels and thus set strategies for reducing inequalities in land distribution and access. Further study is needed to investigate the mechanism for redistribution of rural lands in some villages as landholdings are inequitable.
Description
Available in print form, East Africana Collection, Dr. Wilbert Chagula Library, Class mark (THS EAF HD1265.T34T52)
Keywords
Land tenure, Mbozi district, Handeni District, Tanzania
Citation
Tiba, A. Y.(2015).Village land rights formalization and equity implications in Tanzania: the cases of Mbozi and Handeni districts, Master dissertation, University of Dar es Salaam.