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Land use conflicts and livelihoods of small holder farmers in Ulanga district
(Mzumbe University, 2013) Maksi, Deogratias Clemence
Land is increasingly becoming a source of conflicts in Tanzania and Africa at large, where land access had traditionally been characterized as relatively unrestricted. The main objective of the study was to examine how Land use conflicts’ smallholder farmers livelihoods are affected by land use conflicts. Subsequently, there were four specific objectives, to examine land administration system in Tanzania, especially land registration processes on how it affects rural smallholder farmers, to examine the state of land ownership in Ulanga district, to examine the causes for land use conflicts in Ulanga district and to examine the weaknesses of legal institutions for the persistence of the land use conflicts at Ulanga district. Primary data were collected from 120 smallholding farmers from 3 wards 2 villages from each ward. The study findings show that land administration system in Tanzania affects land registration process especially in rural areas due to the fact that most of the rural people failed to afford expenses. Also study findings reveal that most of the rural small farmers possess land through inheritance and customary rights. Moreover findings show that some of the underlying factors for land conflict are like, lack of clear demarcations, lack of land title deed, population pressure and agricultural commercialization. It seems that in Tanzania formal institutions for land administration are often simply superimposed on traditional structures without a clear delineation of responsibilities and competencies, implying that they lack both outreach and social legitimacy. It is thus concluded that land issue has a strong touch on a wide range of issues in different thematic areas. It is a cross cutting issue and touches all aspects of social, economic and political activities in rural areas. Therefore land use conflicts may affect the all sectors and live hoods of the natives of a specific area and Tanzania in general. It is recommended that there is a need of having strong legal management machinery which dealing with land management in the country. Also raising awareness on land rights is a crucial thing in land ownership. Furthermore the least there is a need to encourage land registration to the rural people. This service should be allocated in rural areas where most land conflicts occur
Vegetable production and household poverty reduction in Ludewa district
(Mzumbe University, 2013) Mlelwa, Faraja
This study examines the contribution of vegetable production to household poverty reduction. It was conducted in Njombe region, using Ludewa District as a case in point. Specifically, the study intended to: identify types and quantity of vegetable grown in the study area, establish the contribution of vegetable production to household income, compare income from agricultural activities (i.e. farming) with income from vegetable and non vegetable farmers. It was to find out the effects of vegetable production on income poverty in the district. Simple random and purposive sampling techniques were used to get a total of 70 respondents. Data were collected through questionnaires, semi- structured interviews and checklists. Both qualitative and quantitative methods were used to analyze data. The results of the study showed that, vegetable production contributes to the increase in the income of vegetable producers (smallholder farmers). On the side of non-income poverty, there is increase in quantity of vegetable production, increase in food security, as well as improvement in access and affordability of health and education services. Thus, this study has established that there is significant contribution of vegetable production to household income, hence poverty reduction. It can be concluded that there is huge potential in using horticulture for poverty reduction. To make horticulture activities sustainable, it is recommended that, there must be deliberate efforts in improving access to land by legally allocating special area for horticulture. Since most of the farmers are found in rural areas there is a need to improve infrastructure for easier rural transport.
Traffic jam and its social impacts: the case of Dar es salaam city
(Mzumbe University, 2013) Nelson, Erick
This study was conducted in order to identify the social impacts of traffic jam in Dar es Salaam City. A case study design was applied to obtain primary data from the unit of enquiry. Also various methods of data collection such as in depth interview, administered questionnaire and documentary review were applied. Simple random sampling was adopted to select 46 respondents from which data was collected. The findings showed that traffic jam exists and it is a major problem to the commuters in Dar es Salaam city. According to the study, about 78.3% spend more than two to three hours on traffic jam. Some of the causes for traffic jam were said to be poor roads, increased number of cars and location of many offices at one place, lack of parking places as well as poor traffic management. On the other side, traffic jam was found to have the following impacts on health. This includes spread of diseases such as airborne diseases and fainting just to mention few. At family level, traffic jam has led to misunderstanding among family members, separation and divorce and lack of time for parents to be with their children. At community level, traffic jam contributes to poor relation among communities due to lack of time to participate in social affairs, reduced visitation, late arrival of fire and rescue tracks during the occurrence of disasters in the community and late arrival at work or school. In order to eliminate traffic jam in Dar es Salaam city, the following recommendations were made: improving the current infrastructures including construction of flyovers, reallocation of offices and services from the city centre, establishment of other means of transport such as train and water transport. This report was presented in five chapters, chapter one covered introduction of the study, chapter two, literature review, chapter three, research methodology, chapter four, presentation and discussion of the research findings and chapter five, the conclusions and recommendations
A critical assessment of the legitimacy of the international investment arbitration system: A call for reform
(Mzumbe University, 2015) Cosmas, Julius
Currently most international investment disputes are settled through arbitration. The origin of this dispute settlement system can be associated with the recent proliferation of over 3000 Bilateral Investment Treaties. Through this system disputes are settled by autonomous and differently constituted tribunals which have powers to render final and binding awards. The dissatisfied party has very limited opportunity to challenge the rendered award as there are no higher bodies in the hierarchy where a dissatisfied party can lodge an appeal, save for limited procedural challenges which are allowed under the system. These differently constituted tribunals at times reach diametrically opposed decisions on similar facts and those decisions stand side by side and all are considered valid. These inconsistent decisions are leading to lack of consistency and uniformity which in turn affects the legitimacy of the system as a whole. The rules of these institutions do not allow the proceedings to be held in public despite the fact that at times these tribunals question the regulatory powers of the state and state measures on service provision to its citizens. Another issue under the current system is that due to lack of coordination, arbitrators play dual roles: as counsels and arbitrators. This practice compromises the cherished principle of the rule of law. In the effort to address these concerns, stakeholders have suggested a number of possible solutions. The suggested solutions include: invoking res judicata and lis pendens principles; adopting the doctrine of precedent; applying the ‘fork in the road’ principle; adopting the margin of appreciation standard in interpretation of BITs; creating an appellate structure at ICSID and creating a treaty to treaty appellate body. This research submits that, the suggested solutions singularly and cumulatively don not address the legitimacy issues adequately. The research therefore calls for the establishment of a Multilateral Agreement on Investment (MAI) in order to address the legitimacy issues cumulatively. It is submitted that establishing a Multilateral Investment Agreement (MAI) which provides for creating a standing international investment court with an appellate court is the only solution which addresses all the issues haunting the international investment dispute settlement system. In addition, the research suggests interim solutions which will help to increase the legitimacy of the current system pending the establishment of the MAI and the courts. The interim solutions include: establishment of the investor – state dispute adjudication Centre; effective utilisation of host state courts; mandatory publication of all awards; enhancing the effective use of member states interpretative statement; and forming a working commission to provide basic interpretation and the scope of the basic international investment law principles. These measures are only meant to improve the current system pending the establishment of the MAI and the courts. The research concludes that for the betterment of international investment law, the reform is inevitable and that the benefits would outweigh any demerits.
Institutions analysis of resource governance among Kiti water users association in Chunya district
(Mzumbe University, 2013) Nzota, Fransisca F.
This study assesses resource governance related to water user association in Chunya district, Mbeya region as a case. Specifically, the study intended to explain the process of carrying out collective bargaining in order to govern water resources and explain how conflicts in water user are resolved in Chunya District. It has also assessed willingness to pay for water as a public good, and the role of property right in mitigate the tragedy of the commons. Qualitative research methodology was employed to collect primary data. Whereas the collected data using structured questionnaires, interviews, focus group discussion and observation were used in the analysis. The documentary review research method was also employed to collect secondary data. The analysis was done using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) and Excel Computer Software to analyse descriptive statistics such as cross-tabulations, percentages and averages of the sample size of 98 respondents. Results show that the process of carrying out collective bargaining is not participatory enough since only 33.3% of the members of Water Users Association were involved. However, conflict resolutions in water use are effectively resolved using WUAs. The willingness to pay for water services was relatively high up to 82.7% of the respondents who were interested to pay for using water. The property right assignment was reported to be a stimulate sense of ownership and provides the legal capacity to WUAs in dealing with deviants of water source regulations In order to increase effectiveness in resource governance especially in water resource; WUAs and other water institutions must recognize the role of community in governance of natural resources. Furthermore, the study provided areas for further research.