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Magufuli outlines snags in lands sector
2006-03-15 13:23:31
By Peter Tindwa
Four major problems have been hindering sustainable use, development and management of land in African countries, including Tanzania, the government said yesterday.
The bottlenecks included unresolved effects of past land policies, the Minister of Lands, Housing and Human Settlements Development, John Magufuli, said when opening the Africa Region Commonwealth Association of Surveying and Land Economy (CASLE) conference in Bagamoyo.
”African countries, including Tanzania, need to address the effects of past land policies whose results are difficult to reverse,” Magufuli said in a speech read on his behalf by Prof Idris Mkikula, Principal of the University College of Lands and Architectural Studies (UCLAS).
He cited other land problems as rural-urban migration, uncontrolled urbanisation and rapid growth of informal settlements.
Also on the list of problems are limited capacity for policy analysis, planning and project implementation together with limited financial resources in the lands sector.
Magufuli said there was need to put in place a strategic plan for implementation of land laws.
’In Tanzania, a strategic plan for the implementation of new land laws and its realisation is about to commence under the Strategic Plan for the Implementation of the Land Laws (SPILL).’
He advised land experts attending the conference to come up with implementable recommendations that should be submitted to their respective governments.
The resolutions should be on possible reforms on existing land tenure systems, aiming at improvement of land ownership that promotes sustainable livelihood.
The proposals should also suggest that women and children in rural areas should indiscriminately be part of land ownership schemes while serviced land should be easily accessible to the poor using transparent delivery systems.
’The rate of land delivery must be commensurable with the urban population growth to counter development of informal settlements. Private housing schemes be promoted in urban areas by providing infrastructure, mortgage facilities and ensuring the schemes take into account affordability by the poor majority,’ Magufuli said.
Delegates taking part in the conference are from the UN-Habitat, CASLE as well as presidents of Institutes of Surveyors of Tanzania and Tanzania Institution of Valuers and estate agents.
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