NGOs form land disputes resolution `confederacy`

BY IDDA MUSHI

The regional government here has admitted that even though  policies and laws guiding land management and occupancy exist, disputes over land have been increasing partly because people have a poor grasp of the legal requirements. 

Lukasi Mwaisaka, Assistant Administrative Secretary for infrastructure and land issues in the regional administration, made this observation when he stood for Regional Commissioner Joel Bendera at an inauguration of the Land Disputes Resolution Confederation composed of six non-governmental organizations late Thursday. 

Mwaisaka said that there was little public awareness of policies and laws governing land issues and therefore stakeholders, including NGOs, had the duty of raising awareness on the relevant instruments among the wider public. 

He advised the recently formed confederation to find ways of  bringing wider awareness of best land practices so that every user, particularly  livestock keepers, understand their limits in land usage. 

He advised that wherever land seems insufficient for the number of livestock present in a particular area, it was important to educate the herders of the possibility of opening up small ranches that would be surveyed for them to conduct their occupation as businesses.

He said, however, that what the government wanted to see happening was increased investment into land with the least possible disputes over it. 

Mwaisaka said the government was making an effort to see to it that the Land Acts No. 4 and 5 of 1999 are properly enforced.

On her part, the confederation secretary, Angelina Mzirai, said the  goal for its establishment is to try and reduce frequency of disputes  on land, particularly in Morogoro Region, that have mostly pitted  farmers and herders on the one hand, and the people against investors on the other hand. 

Mzirai said that the confederation intends to bring together key players over land matters so as to boost understanding and sort out differences, including ending existing disputes. 

SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN (06/10/2012): http://www.ippmedia.com/frontend/index.php?l=46619