IN SEARCH OF THE SOLUTION TO FARMER–PASTORALIST CONFLICTS IN TANZANIA

The document analyzes the persistent land-use conflicts between farmers and pastoralists in Tanzania, specifically focusing on the Pawaga division. It identifies historical evictions, 'green grabbing' for conservation, large-scale agricultural investments like SAGCOT, and a biased legal framework as primary drivers of hostility. The author argues that Tanzania's formal land dispute machinery is inadequate and often politicized, failing to protect pastoralist rights. As an alternative, the paper highlights a successful pilot project by the Tanzania Natural Resource Forum (TNRF) that established a coalition of farmers and pastoralists in Pawaga to resolve disputes through dialogue and joint bylaws.

• Farmer–pastoralist conflicts in Tanzania are deeply rooted in historical injustices, specifically government-supported evictions from the colonial period through the early 1990s to create protected areas and large-scale agricultural farms.
• Tanzania's formal land dispute settlement system is ineffective for these conflicts because it relies on a rigid civil-criminal distinction and lacks appropriate forums, often leaving the primary cause—land—unaddressed while focusing on criminal symptoms.
• There is a systemic bias against pastoralists within the Tanzanian judiciary and executive branches, with laws and policies actively discouraging pastoralism in favor of sedentary livestock keeping.
• In the Pawaga division, conflicts are driven by external factors rather than the farmers and pastoralists themselves, including 'green grabbing' for the Ruaha National Park and MBOMIPA Wildlife Management Area, and the expansion of irrigation schemes under the Kilimo Kwanza initiative.
• Local governance is compromised by corrupt officials and politicians who may instigate conflicts or extract bribes from pastoralists, further deepening mutual hostility.
• A participatory approach, exemplified by a TNRF-facilitated coalition of farmers and pastoralists in Pawaga formed in June 2015, has successfully reduced violence and established mutually beneficial agreements, such as allowing livestock to graze on rice husks for a fee.

APA

MASSAY, G. E. (2017). IN SEARCH OF THE SOLUTION TO FARMER–PASTORALIST CONFLICTS IN TANZANIA. South African Institute of International Affairs. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Occasional-Paper-257.pdf

Chicago

MASSAY, GODFREY ELISEUS. IN SEARCH OF THE SOLUTION TO FARMER–PASTORALIST CONFLICTS IN TANZANIA. South African Institute of International Affairs, 2017. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Occasional-Paper-257.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=MASSAY |first1=GODFREY ELISEUS |title=IN SEARCH OF THE SOLUTION TO FARMER–PASTORALIST CONFLICTS IN TANZANIA |publisher=South African Institute of International Affairs |date=May 2017 |url=https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Occasional-Paper-257.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{massay2017search, author = {MASSAY, GODFREY ELISEUS}, title = {{IN SEARCH OF THE SOLUTION TO FARMER–PASTORALIST CONFLICTS IN TANZANIA}}, institution = {South African Institute of International Affairs}, year = {2017}, month = may, url = {https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Occasional-Paper-257.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }