Customary Land Titling and Livelihood Dynamics among Agro-pastoralists in Tanzania: The Case of Dodoma and Mbeya Regions.

Mwamlangala, MacLean Charles (2020) Customary Land Titling and Livelihood Dynamics among Agro-pastoralists in Tanzania: The Case of Dodoma and Mbeya Regions. Masters thesis, The Open University of Tanzania.

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Abstract

The dilemma of Customary land titling to improve rural livelihood has remained in a grey area with an academic puzzle. This has led to intensive debates among scholars and practitioners in agro-economies. In that case, this study is aimed at investigating the impact of customary land titling and livelihood dynamics among agro-pastoralists in Dodoma and Mbeya regions, Tanzania. The objectives of the study were to examine rural land registration process, assess the perceptions of agro-pastoralists on land titling process, and review the use of the existing rural institutions in enforcing land issues to agro-pastoralists. Also, to evaluate the changes in livelihoods associated with the use of customary land titling among agro-pastoralists in the study areas. The study adopted a cross-sectional research design. Data collection involved household survey, which included 397 respondents, an interview of 28 key informants, and a Focus Group Discussion with 56 participants. For the researcher analyzed, households’ survey data through the IBM-SPSS 20.0 computer software. Furthermore, the researcher used content analysis to analyze data collected through Focus Group Discussions and interviews. Study results indicated that 46.2% of the respondents own Certificate of Customary Right of Occupancy, while 76.6% reported that the trend of Certificate of Customary Right of Occupancy’s acquisitions is decreasing. Moreover, about 66.1% of the respondents did not know the procedure of acquiring the Certificate of Customary Right of Occupancy’s because they were not aware of Village Land Use Planning. In that case, 56.2% of the respondents acquired land through inheritance. About 61% of respondents own land on individual ownership, where the husband was the principal owner of the land property. Moreover, results indicated that 75.3% of respondents had a Certificate of Customary Right of Occupancy misplaced in the offices of the District Land Officer or Village Executive Officer before issuance. Again, 75.6% of the respondents revealed that formal financial institutions do not accept the Certificate of Customary Right of Occupancy. Furthermore, results indicated that 60.0% of the respondents are not aware of the institutions mandated to address rural land issues. Moreover, Certificates of Customary Right of Occupancy contributed slightly changes in improving the livelihoods of many agro-pastoralists in the villages. The study recommends that Local Government Authorities, Ministry of Lands and Housing Settlement Development, and Community Based Organizations and Non-Government Organizations should provide educations and information on land developments. Additionally, formal financial institutions should review conditions of loans in view to facilitating economic use of the Certificates of Customary Right of Occupancy as collaterals.

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