MVIWATA in collaboration with HAKIARDHI and TAGRODE under Tanzania Land Alliance (TALA) has conducted a Field visit, Public dialogue and a legal aid in Ulanga District, Morogoro region for a Land Tenure Support Program (LTSP) Project. The objectives were to become familiar with the area in dispute and find out more fact on the issue, to provide legal aid to SHFs’ and offer legal assistance where is necessary for protection of their rights and to inflame thoughts and promote more awareness on land laws for Small Holder Farmers’ in order to make them more aware of their legal rights in relation to land.
The team joined with SHFs from Kichangani village and visited Kimbiru hamlet where Small Holder Farmers expressed their concerns on how the Land Use Plan they passed during their Village Assembly has not been implemented properly.
MVIWATA together with HAKI ARDHI and TAGRODE under TALA conducted a public dialogue which were facilitated by Kuyunga Yango a Legal officer from MVIWATA who presented on land policy of Tanzania, Nuru Pipino a Legal officer from MVIWATA presented on land laws of Tanzania and finally Kuyunga Yango and Nuru Pipino Legal officers both from MVIWATA presented on the proposed Agricultural Land Bill.
After presentations, Small Holder Farmers contributed on topics presented and express their views, opinions contributions and challenges on the subjects.
For Two days consecutive MVIWATA, HAKIARDHI and TAGRODE conducted a legal aid activity in four villages including Chilombola, Mzelezi, Igumbiro and Kichangani villages. A total of 114 SHFs (63M 51F) was attended. During the visit various issues were raised in legal aid including the fact that some people who claim to be lawful owners did not get Certificate of Customary Right of Occupation (CCRO) and conflicts which made some villagers not get CCRO. Villagers were concerned with not getting CCROs to date and the team planned to do follow up on the matter.
Conclusively the team proposes more trainings and awareness raising activities should be conducted so that Small Holder Farmers can attain more knowledge on their land rights, Baseline survey should be conducted in villages where it was not conducted so that stakeholders under Tanzania Land Alliance (TALA) may know the needs of Small Holder Farmers before going to implement other activities, To make posters that explains planned activities and place them in conspicuous places so that more people may know what is going on as they pass by and finally trainings should be followed by legal aid.
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