The changing nature of the Peri-Urban Zone in Africa: evidence from Dar-es-Salaam,Tanzania

Research on the peri-urban zones of African cities since the mid-1980s has focused around three main themes, these being peri-urban agriculture as a survival strategy, debates about the relative efficiencies of peri-urban agriculture, and the question of production priorities. Drawing on recent evidence from Dar-es-Salaam in Tanzania, this paper suggest that a combination of structural adjustment measures and the eased economic crisis in Tanzania has changed conditions, the result of which has been the increasing commodification of land in the peri-urban zone during the 1990s. This has turned the per-urban zone more into a zone of investment and economic opportunity, rather than a zone of survival, with the result that the poorer urban groups are being increasingly excluded. A further complication concerns confusion arising out of current Tanzanian land law, and particularly the tensions between customary and statutory law

Natural Resource Governance and the Cycle of Poverty in Fishing Communities Along the Coast of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

Drawing on research from two coastal villages south of Dar es Salaam city in Tanzania, this paper sets out to examine the state of natural resources governance and how it has contributed to the persistence of poverty among fishing communities. It is argued that despite the natural resources endowment of the coastal fishing villages, a majority of the fishers are locked in a cycle of poverty largely due to poor governance. The findings show that limited livelihood options in the areas has contributed to persistent poverty and degradation of coastal resources. In conclusion, the paper takes the view that since the cycle of poverty among fishermen is multidimensional, a holistic approach is required to address the problem. In particular, it is argued that any attempts to break the cycle of poverty and reverse the trend in environmental degradation must first seek to improve the management of natural resources

Changing village land, labour and livelihoods: Rungwe and Kyela districts, Tanzania

This paper presents the findings of a field study carried out in two villages (Kyimo and Ngonga) in Rungwe and Kyela districts of Mbeya region in 1995. These districts, located in southwestern Tanzania near to the Malawian and Zambian borders, have long been recognized for their great agricultural potential. Now, however, rural population densities have reached critical levels and villagers are experimenting with various non-agricultural activities alongside their agricultural work. The main objectives of the study were to examine the changing features of household control over resources such as land, labour and capital and to document the evolution of non-agricultural labour activities. Changing patterns of land and labour allocation between generations within rural households are explored in relation to these themes.ASC – Publicaties niet-programma gebonde

Institutional changes in management of Common Pool Resources (CPR) in Eastern Same Tanzania: Challenges and opportunities

During the last four decades Tanzania has witnessed several macro and sectoral policy changes with a trickle down effect, shaping both the management of CPR and livelihoods of resource users and other stakeholders. The study was carried out in the eastern part of Same district, focusing on the highland-lowland CPR interaction among the Maasai pastoralists and the Pare who are predominantly farmers. The main objective was to analyse institutional changes underlying the management of CPR and the factors driving the change with emphasis to resources such as forest, water for irrigation and grazing lands. The theoretical approach for the study is based on Hardin characterization of the tragedy of the commons which is the basic problem of CPR management and the way contemporary scholars such as Ostrom and other researchers have tried to approach the problem. Primary data collection involved the use of anthropological methods and socio- economic surveys employing household questionnaires, key informant interviews, oral histories and participants observation. Secondary sources such as government reports were also used. The results indicate that institutional changes have resulted into resource use conflicts and the challenge is that these conflicts have been increasing. The types of conflicts included micro-macro conflicts between conservation authorities and resource users, inter-micro micro conflicts between farmers and between farmers and herders and intra-micro micro conflicts between people in the same family or household. The factors that increased the likelihood of institutional changes included political, technological and distance to markets. The study recommends ecosystem based institutional framework that is capable of accommodating the changes, improving people’s welfare and sustainable management of the CPR in the study area. The opportunity that is presented by the current policy changes where power is devolved to local resource users and stakeholders can be utilized to achieve the desired goals of sustainable management of the CPR