Land-access systems in peri-urban areas in Tanzania: perspectives from actors

Peri-urban land access in Tanzania is adversely embroiled in a dual system that is both formal and informal. Each system is driven by different actors with diverging interests. This paper aims at demonstrating views of the actors' on the dual system in peri-urban areas. Case study strategy was employed in this study and mixed methods of data collection used. In-depth interviews, household questionnaires and document analysis were employed to collect data. Findings demonstrate that although the formal land-access system is unnecessarily bureaucratic, the associated benefits are worthwhile compared to the informal system. Despite the challenges of the informal system, it remains predominant because of multiple factors including the ability to bridge the gap of high demand for planned and surveyed land that the formal public sector has failed to meet. Thus, it is important for the government to address challenges in the formal land-access system through institutional and policy reforms. There is also need to coordinate and regulate the activities of actors involved in informal land-access processes, if effective land governance in peri-urban areas is to be achieved.