SOCIO-CULTURAL FACTORS AFFECTING WOMEN’S LAND OWNERSHIP RIGHTS IN TANZANIA: A CASE STUDY OF TARIME DISTRICT

Abstract

Context and background Access to land by Women is a topic that is considered as the property rights issue that is prominence around the World. Land is important for the economy, politics, livelihood, culture and development of the people. Goal and Objectives This study specifically assesses the situation of women's land rights ownership in Tarime District and the effects of socio-cultural factors influencing women’s rights to land ownership in Tarime District. Methodology: This study adopted mixed method research design. The design allowed the study to collect both qualitative and quantitative data. The target population for the study were household heads, women and government officials dealing with land. The study applied random sampling to select a sample size of 109 respondents who were the heads of households. To get qualitative data, six (6) key informants for interviews were selected purposively who were the ward land committee members, the magistrate, and the district land officials. The study used two methods of data collection which were key informant interviews and household survey to collect both quantitative and qualitative data. Data analysis used for quantitative data was descriptive statistics while for qualitative data, content analysis (conceptual and relational) was used to determine the perceptions and attitudes of the respondents on socio-cultural factors which determined women’s rights to land ownership in the study district. Results The findings showed that cultural practices were the major barriers to women's access to, control over and land ownership. The study concludes that women who freely owned land were economically more productive than those who did not and there were positive effects on poverty reduction among women who had access to land ownership. Hence, this made them independent in income generation and provision of support to their families and the community in general. The study recommends that the central government, NGOs and local government authority should sensitize and capacitate women on issues of land ownership rights and property ownership. Also, inclusive programs should target both women and men in the community, by emphasizing on the importance of gender equality and equity in land ownership.