The forum comes at a time when the country is experiencing growing animosities between livestock keepers and farmers in different parts of the country who often come at logger-heads over the resource
Dar es Salaam. Sebastian Kolowa Memorial University (Sekomu) in collaboration with the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Tanzania (ELCT) has launched the Tanzania Land Forum (TLF) in a bid to find lasting solutions to land-related conflicts in the country.
The forum comes at a time when the country is experiencing growing animosities between livestock keepers and farmers in different parts of the country who often come at logger-heads over the resource.
More recently, land conflicts in Kiteto District, Manyara Region led to deadly clashes.
The Forum will facilitate processes whereby Tanzanians would jointly be able to work for land-use systems that ensure the welfare and prosperity of all, including seeking land justice and realisation of the dream of sustainable peaceful coexistence, according to Dr Stephen Munga, an interim chairman of the forum.
According to him, major activities of the forum would be centred on research to acquire reliable information that would be used to end land conflicts countrywide.
“The intention of creating the forum is to accomplish and set into motion seeking solutions to land problems in our country,’’ he said adding that Tanzania, like any other country in Africa, was heading towards a serious conflict situation, which is likely to undermine peace and stability in the country. He said this needed something to be done immediately to arrest the situation.
His sentiments were echoed by Prime Minister Mizengo Pinda who graced the launch of the Forum.
The Premier said despite various efforts done by the government to stamp out land conflicts, livestock keepers and farmers continue staying at logger heads, a sign that the peace that the country has enjoyed for decades was in a great jeopardy.
“Since I became the Prime Minister, this problem has been coming up every now and then. But I am confident that this Forum will help in finding solutions because it is made up of many influential people,’’ he said.
Earlier, the ELCT head, Dr Alex Malasusa, expressed his discontent over the trend whereby some rich people in the country grab huge chunks of land for their own benefits leaving the majority landless.
“Various beaches now have become strongholds for rich people and I wonder if in future our children will have open space left for them to play and enjoy in,’’ he said.
