The effectiveness of village councils in land conflicts management in Tanzania: A reflection of Kondoa District Council

Abstract

This Paper assessed the effectiveness of village councils on land conflict management in Tanzania. A cross-sectional design and mixed research approach were employed for the study. Yamane's 1967 Formula helped get respondents, where 127 respondents were randomly selected and gathered information. The reason for using Yamane is that the population was known and fixed in a selected study area (Yamen, 1967). The main inference is; village councils are someway efficient in land conflict management. Such status is associated with the challenges the respective organ encounters, including corrupt behaviour of village leaders, low knowledge of land laws, poor land use plans, and poor community involvement in land resource allocation. The Paper has practical, theoretical and policy necessities as it makes a new guide, provides policy inputs and enhanced foundations in land conflict management. To mitigate land conflicts, the Paper recommends that district authority, particularly the management, institute capacity-building strategies to implant knowledge on Land regulations and the law of inheritance to the village council and the community. Land management activities should be fully funded by the central government rather than financed by the lower level of local government, whose financial capacity is scrawny. Lastly, communities need extensive engagement to own the process and conceptualize the constraints associated with the land. In contrast, land laws should be enforced to help people have discipline and respect for the land.