The University of Dodoma University of Dodoma Institutional Repository http://repository.udom.ac.tz Social Sciences Master Dissertations 2015 The role of ward tribunals in solving land disputes in Tanzania: a case of Karatu district Nchia, Devotha The University of Dodoma Nchia, D. (2015). The role of ward tribunals in solving land disputes in Tanzania: a case of Karatu district. Dodoma: The University of Dodoma. http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12661/1161 Downloaded from UDOM Institutional Repository at The University of Dodoma, an open access institutional repository. THE ROLE OF WARD TRIBUNALS IN SOLVING LAND DISPUTES IN TANZANIA: A CASE OF KARATU DISTRICT By Devotha Nchia Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfilment for the Requirements for Award of the Degree of Master of Arts in Sociology of the University of Dodoma The University of Dodoma October, 2015 CERTIFICATION The undersigned certifies that has read and hereby recommends for acceptance by the University of Dodoma thesis/dissertation entitled: “The Role of Ward Tribunals in Solving Land Disputes in Tanzania: A Case of Karatu District ” in fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master in Sociology of the University of Dodoma. Signature…………………………… Dr Mark Paul Diyammi (SUPERVISOR) Date…………………………………… i DECLARATION AND COPYRIGHT I, Devotha Nchia, declare that this dissertation is my own original work and that it has not been presented and will not be presented to any other University for a similar or any other degree award. Signature: ……………………………………… No part of this dissertation may be reproduced, stored in any retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means without prior written permission of the author or the University of Dodoma. ii ACKNOLEDGEMENT Generally speaking, I thank God Almighty for his blessings and the academic capability that he has given me and helped me conquer different barriers throughout my stay at The University of Dodoma. I express my sincere gratitude to my supervisor, Dr Mark Paul Diyammi, for his tireless guidance and valuable time during my research. All in all, I thank the University of Dodoma community especially my classmates, Master of Arts in Sociology (2013-2015); for their cooperation which made the best place for me to live and expand my academic horizons. I would like to extend my profound gratitude to Karatu boys’ High School students for their assistance in data collection together with Mr. Adonis Byemelwa and Benard Projestus who helped me in SPSS data analysis programme I say, thank you all for your assistance. I finally express my deeply heart thanks to my lovely brothers and sisters; Edwin, Mariam, Honorata and Obed for their prayers and encouragement throughout my study. I say thanks to my brother in-law Stephen Jonathan for his support throughout my study. iii DEDICATION This dissertation is dedicated to Lilian K. Nchia and Paul Y. Nchia (my parents); who raised me and saw the importance of education by enrolling me at the age of 6 years, likewise, to Princess and Brighton (my beloved children). iv ABSTRACT The study was about the role of Ward Tribunals in solving Land Disputes particularly in Karatu District, Tanzania. Specifically it was guided by four specific objectives which are: to investigate the rationale of establishing Ward tribunals in solving land disputes, to examine the challenges faced by ward tribunals in solving land disputes, to analyze the legal implication of ward tribunals in solving land disputes and to find out the nature of land disputes which is addressed by the ward tribunals? The study involved 100 respondents comprising of those who were interviewed and those who filled the questionnaires. This sample was derived by applying purposive and simple random sampling methods, where purposive sampling aimed at targeting the District Land officers and investors involved in Land Disputes. Simple random sampling has been used to obtain the sample of the villagers involved in land disputes together with both members of the Village Land Dispute Resolution Council and Ward Tribunals. The SPSS software package version 16 has been used for data analysis. The findings in this study revealed that, there is efficiency in resolving Land Disputes by Ward Tribunals where 30% of respondents agreed, 22% disagreed 22% had neutral responses i.e. undecided, 20% strongly agreed and very few (6%) strongly disagreed. It is therefore interpreted that villagers have much faith in ward tribunals as the capable mechanism for land disputes resolution. In the same line, study findings revealed that, legal implications of ward Tribunals in resolving land disputes was based on section 8 of the Ward Tribunal Act, 1985 and their jurisdiction extends to the district in which they are established. It has been observed in this study that Ward Tribunals have power to mediate and assist parties to reach at a mutual acceptable solution to land disputes using customary principles of mediation. It is therefore recommended that, there should be monitoring systems in Karatu District, which are flexible and friendly to periodically check all justice systems and help devise a way of controlling these Land Dispute Tribunals. Qualification of Ward Tribunal members should be revised and be certain, and the minimum qualification should at least be a certificate in law. This will help to improve the performance of the Ward Tribunal council, because most of the activities involve the matters of law. v TABLE OF CONTENTS CERTIFICATION ........................................................................................................ i DECLARATION AND COPYRIGHT ....................................................................... ii ACKNOLEDGEMENT ............................................................................................. iii DEDICATION ............................................................................................................ iv ABSTRACT ................................................................................................................. v TABLE OF CONTENTS ............................................................................................ vi LIST OF TABLES ....................................................................................................... x LIST OF FIGURES .................................................................................................... xi LIST OF APPENDICES ........................................................................................... xii LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS ................................................. xiii CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY ..... 1 1.0 Introduction ............................................................................................................ 1 1.1 Background to the Study ........................................................................................ 1 1.2 Statement of the Problem ..................................................................................... 20 1.3 Research Objectives ............................................................................................. 21 1.3.1 General Objective ............................................................................................. 21 1.3.2 Specific Objectives ........................................................................................... 22 1.4 Research Questions .............................................................................................. 22 1.5 Significance of the Study ..................................................................................... 22 1.6 Limitation of the Study ........................................................................................ 23 1.7 Chapter Summary ................................................................................................ 23 CHAPTER TWO: REVIEW OF LITERATURE ................................................ 25 2.0 Introduction .......................................................................................................... 25 2.1 Definition of Key Terms ...................................................................................... 25 2.1.1 Concept of Villagisation ................................................................................... 25 2.1.2 Concept of Dispute ............................................................................................ 26 2.1.3 Concept of Boundaries ...................................................................................... 26 2.1.4 Concept of Conflict Resolution ......................................................................... 26 2.1.5 Concept of Conflict Management ..................................................................... 26 2.1.6 Concept of Farmers ........................................................................................... 27 vi 2.1.7 Concept of Pastoralism ..................................................................................... 27 2.1.8 Concept of Conflict ........................................................................................... 27 2.1.9 Concept of Corruption ...................................................................................... 28 2.1.10 Concept of Tribunal ........................................................................................ 28 2.2 Operational Definitions for This Study ................................................................ 28 2.2.1 Disputes ............................................................................................................