THE NATURE OF LAND CONFLICTS IN INFORMAL SETTLEMENTS: EXPERIENCE FROM REGUARIZATION PROJECTS, THE CASE OF DAR ES SALAM, TANZANIA.

Abstract

Land conflicts remain the major character of informal settlements in urban areas. This paper explores the nature and characteristics of land conflicts in areas with informal settlements as experienced from regularization projects in Tanzania. The study used field observations to collect data on boundary conflicts and household interviews to collect data on border conflicts, land use conflicts, and ownership conflicts. The data was collected through a combination of primary and secondary methods. The focus discussion was conducted with members of the Mtaa Regularisation Committee for different sub-wards. The study discovered that the major types of land conflicts in informal settlements include boundary conflicts, land use conflicts, inheritance conflicts, accessibility conflicts, sales, and transfer of ownership. Boundary conflicts remain the main form of conflict appearing in informal settlements. Regularization of informal settlements is now seen as a tool to address the problem of informal settlement conflicts in urban areas.

Keywords

• Informal Settlement
• Nature of land conflicts
• Regularisation projects.