Village Land Management and Administration in Tanzania: The Autonomy of Village Councils

Abstract

This article examines the control, management and administrationof village land in Tanzania. It addresses the autonomy of villagecouncils in the management and administration of village land.The article has generally showed that management andadministration of village land is vested in the village council andthe village assembly. The land allocating authority as far as villageland is concerned is the village council. In some cases, however,approval of the village assembly may be required. Involvement ofthe village assembly shows that the village council is notautonomous in excising its powers of control, management andadministration of village land. In addition to involvement of thevillage assembly the village council is bound by the advice,directives and guidance issued from time to time by theCommissioner and/or the district council as the case may be. Ithas been shown that the Commissioner or the district council hasa stake in the control, management and administration of thevillage land.Keywords: Village Land, Customary Right of Occupancy, Managementand Administration, Land Dispute Resolution, VillageCouncil, Village Assembly, Village Land Council.