An-woman and a resident of Korogwe District, Amina Kirua, at work on her farm after Korogwe paralegals assisted her to claim back her property which was grabbed by a rich neighbor. The assistance was extended in the context of community legal and economic empowerment project which is supported by the Legal Services Facility (LSF). (Photo by Correspondent)

By Correspondent, Korogwe

Tanzania faces numerous challenges related to land ownership, especially in rural areas. The challenges include farmers-pastoralists conflicts, tenure disputes, grabbing, and alienation of peasants. The main victims of these land problems are women, old-people in the rural areas,” says land expert Charity Mugabi in a recent study, noting “current national land policies and approaches have not been able to resolve these problems.”

AminaKirua-an old woman owns 6 acres within Old-Korogwe district (Tanga). She bought the land more than 25 years ago from her neighbor, who had died already. The old woman was not married, but she had two children with different sexual partners.

This is a poor woman who depends on farm works, which earn her small income to sustain herself and take care of her children Hassan Bembe (34) and MusoliJumbe (30) who is mentally-retarded. For many years, Amina had been engaged in subsistence-agriculture activities which are well-known by many villagers in Old-Korogwe.

At one time, her mentally-retarded boy MusoliJumbe experienced some health problems which required her close-monitoring and attention. Such situation kept Amina busy attending to the sick Musoli. So, she stopped going to the farm (as she used to do) for more than two months.

After the boy’s health problem had been settled, she went to the farm only to find it invaded by a rich neighbor who claimed to be the owner of the land. A battle over the land ownership erupted and intensified, with rich neighbor bribing local executives and systems in order to “twist the game”to his favor” thus denying the old woman her rights.

Fellow villagers advised Amina to file a case at Old-Korogwe Land Tribunal. Influenced by bribes from greedy neighbor, the decision-making body ruled in favour of the rich man.

“Following the verdict, I lost the land but I did not give up, because I knew that’s was my property which I bought with my own money,” said Amina. In fact, she was the real owner of the land but had no means to claim back her rights.

The same local executives who are bribed by rich neighbor secretly advised Amina to approach Old-Korogwe paralegal Maimuna Hosean for help. Korogwe paralegals assisted the old woman, prepared necessary documents and lodged an appeal with Korogwe district land and housing tribunal. Amina won the case, as the court declared her rightful owner of the land.

“Since then, the greedy neighbor accepted defeat and has not disturbed Bibi (old woman) up to now,” YahayaSeif, Korogwe paralegal who led a team of paralegals who assisted Amina to recoverher property.

“Specific and special legal aid services should be extended to old-women in rural areas throughout the country, who are at the threat of being driven out of their land because of their poverty and illiteracy.” old-Korogwe local executive and Amina’s neighbor.

“This is not a new phenomenon in most of local communities in Africa…greedy and well-off people are not satisfied with what they have; they want to take even the small land which is possessed by the poor. Actions must be taken--at the local up to the national levels, to protect poor women and men from land grabbing.” one activist Ramadhan Mweli commented.