An investigation into land conflicts in Kalomo district - Zambia: an analysis of the process of land acquisition.
Loading...
Date
2022-08-09
Authors
Muchimba, David
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
The University of Zambia
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to investigate land conflicts through the analysis of the process of
land acquisition in Kalomo district and come up with possible recommendations that can help
minimise conflicts at land acquisition stage. The qualitative data was collected from both land
administrators and the ordinary people in Kalomo district. In- depth interviews and
questionnaires were administered using purposive sampling techniques. This technique was
suitable due to the fact that the study required specific characteristics of respondents like land
administrators and people affected by or involved in land conflicts. Both groups gave their views
on the process of land acquisition.
The study was driven by the Neo-colonialism Theoretical framework whose major assumptions
are that there is a continuation of domination by one country over another which makes a host
country more economically dependent on the dominant country. However, neo- colonialism
theory focuses on the domination and control of specific parts of land instead of an entire nation.
It is not necessarily a relationship between two nations. Just like traditional colonialism, neocolonialism
is about one actor dominating the other. This theory was ideal to explain conflicts in
the land acquisition process in which government and private entities took possession of land and
how the indigenous people were affected by this external influence.
The major findings were that land administrators did not adhere to the existing guidelines of the
Lands Act. The by- laws made by the district council were very exploitative for applicants who
needed land. The involvement of officials from other government agencies did not only increase
the expenses needed for land alienation process, but also their lack of expertise in land
administration deteriorated the role of the land agencies. Further, some institutions such as the
Zambia Railways interfered with the role of the district council by allocating land along the line
of rail to its former workers and political party cadres by giving plots to their new party members
on prohibited land. This resulted into many residents holding untitled land.
Research findings also indicated that there was a lot still needed to be done, especially at the land
acquisition stage, to minimise land conflicts. There was an urgent need to revisit the Lands Act
to regulate behaviours of various people holding interest in land. Children, like any other beneficiary, need to be considered in the process of land allocation taking into account the childheaded
households which have emerged in Zambia.
The lands Act should be translated into seven local languages to ensure adequate public
consumption. As a public document, the Lands Act must be simplified from its technical
language to a more comprehensive law to cater for the interests of both the educated (trained)
and the uneducated (untrained) citizens. An independent body should be established to preside
over customary land issues as the Land Tribunal is more inclined to statutory law. All in all, the
study is aimed at emancipating the lives of the people whose land rights are entangled in the
selfish desires of the few dominant institutions and in Kalomo district. This emancipation is
guaranteed through the excavation and making known of the irregularities existing within the
process of land acquisition, which, in the long run, may have been considered a normal trend by
the stakeholders.
Description
Thesis
Keywords
Land acquisition. , Zambia--Maps.