Harmony prevails as EU, Helvetas silence Morogoro farmers, herders’ guns
They are drawing up comprehensive land use plans for more than 17 villages to forestall peace.
WEDNESDAY November 6, 2024
By The Tranquility News Reporter, Tanzania
Long-standing land disputes pitting farmers and pastoralists in four districts of Morogoro Region are being essentially resolved, thanks to a pioneering initiative by a non-governmental organisation – Helvetas-Tanzania.
Tension and hostility between farmers and pastoralists often culminated into deadly clashes in the region in recent years as communities with varying interests scrambled for diminishing land, forest and water resources.
The core component of community empowerment in sustainable forest management and renewable energy, locally known as USEMINI in its Kiswahili acronym, is drawing up comprehensive land use plans for more than 17 villages to forestall harmony.
Villages to benefit from this initiative, co-financed by the European Union (EU) with 90 per cent of funding totaling €2.2 million and supported by Helvetas with the remaining 10 per cent, are in Morogoro Rural, Ulanga, Malinyi, and Mvomero districts.
The three-year project borrows land use planning and sustainable resource management expertise from the host district councils, Community Development and Relief Trust, and Community Forest Conservation Network of Tanzania.
Besides bringing about harmony, their collaboration is also billed to enhance environmental conservation, renewable energy, and large-scale planting of over five million fruit and spice trees to beef up both food security and earnings.
Dr Julius Ningu, the Ulanga District Commissioner, was upbeat the project would relieve communities of land conflicts, as almost all villages had been surveyed to demarcate lands for farming, pasture, settlement, cemetery, homage, and for forest and water conservation.
“As we speak, barely five out of 58 villages lack clearly defined land use zones in the district,” said Dr Ningu, explaining that the remaining villages would also be surveyed once their persistent disputes over boundaries are resolved.
Mr Filoteus Matoroka, the project’s Local Support Provider (LSP) at Lukande Village in Ulanga District, said villagers had through the USEMINI project realised that they needed land, forests, and water more than the resources needed them.
“When they conserve land, they will get forests, rain and water. Forest products will provide them with building materials,” clarified Mr Matoroka, stressing that it was time villagers countrywide changed their mindsets towards utilisation of the natural resources.
Mr Tamimu Limpwani, another USEMINI LSP at Gombe Village also in Ulanga District, said he was already benefiting from beekeeping education the project had imparted to him, as he was harvesting and selling honey and bee wax from one of the zones designated for forest.
As we speak, barely five out of 58 villages lack clearly defined land use zones in the district,” Dr Julius Ningu, the Ulanga District Commissioner, Morogoro Region, Tanzania.
The Kinonko Village Executive Officer (VEO) in Morogoro Rural District, Mr Juma Shaaban, attested that the number of cases related to land disputes at the village had nosedived from four a day to none.
“We’ve enacted stringent bylaws, enabling us to mete out a penalty against anyone caught encroaching or defaulting any of the terms set for usage of the zones,” the VEO said.
The Kinonko Village Chairman, Mr Hamidu Gamba, recalled, in turn, that lives and property used to be regularly lost to clashes between farmers and pastoralists prior to the initiative.
“Through meticulous land surveys and the establishment of designated zones for residential, agricultural, and pastoral activities, the project has significantly reduced, if not eliminated, the losses,” said Mr Gamba, adding that villagers were not only enjoying peace, but productive activities had also resumed.
The Project Coordinator, Mr Daniel Kalimbiya, enumerated long-term advantages of the village land use plans, including sustainable management of land resources and prevention of environmental degradation.
“The project aims at minimising land conflicts and preserving crucial resources such as water catchment areas and forests,” he explained.
Looking ahead, Mr Kalimbiya outlined the project’s future objectives including planting over five million trees and reaching out to10,000 beneficiaries from 2,000 households, with a particular focus on youth and women.
Morogoro is renowned for its fertile land that is capable of accommodating various fruits and spice trees ranging from cloves to cacao, coffee, avocado, and palm.
Set to conclude in 2026, the USEMINI project promises to continue addressing land use challenges and fostering sustainable development in the Morogoro RegionΩ
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The Tranquility News Reporter/Sub Editor, Tanzania
Patty Magubira is an experienced environmental and business editor whose career started at the Tanzania's state-owned newspaper - The Daily News. He is a man of perfection. Aided by his extensive training as a community forestry expert before joining Tanzania School of Journalism. Magubira had successfully held various key posts in newsrooms, giving him an unmatched connections in media fraternity. Having worked as a bureau chief in Arusha and Mwanza, he managed to build a team work, boosting sales to the highest level ever. He was then promoted to a sub-editor after completing a training in Nairobi, Kenya. His incredible experience, critical thinking and exposure are critical to the quality of any media outlet.
