In absence of title deeds, why dare advertise land?

[BabuK]

Editorial Cartoon


The Lands, Housing and Human Settlements ministry has immense explanation to do, in a way just as local government authorities.

It revolves around the recent trend that has seen some district councils vigorously advertise what were said to be huge numbers of plots awaiting transformation into residences and industrial or commercial premises.

Now, properly surveyed plots are well beyond the reach of most ordinary Tanzanians. This chiefly because such “special” pieces of land are hopelessly scarce and only the rich can afford the few ones available.

This is primarily why it is understandable when members of the public rush to “grab” surveyed plots made available thanks to intervention by the government, say, in during the relocation and resettlement of people whose residences have been ravaged by floods, hurricanes, etc., etc.

The scenario is much similar when particular families, communities or even institutions have no option but to pave the way for alternative uses of land they have legally occupied – and developed – for decades on end.

The problems our country has been grappling with in connection with differences of opinion over land occupancy and use that have on occasion degenerated into bloody clashes attest to the value people attach to the ownership of this all-important natural resource.

This is mainly why we sincerely believe we are duty-bound to root for the speeding up of land surveys as an integral part of a strategy meant to improve the lot of our people, at least by helping them ultimately have decent accommodation at residences of their own.

It is likewise why we feel compelled to express grave concern over failure by the relevant agencies or authorities to keep their word by ensuring that when they advertise plots “for sale to members of the public at official prices”, then those plots are indeed available as promptly as practicable and at the prices cited.

Unfortunately, we have seen little evidence of this in the recent past. For instance, Kibaha District Council has spent the last thirteen months or so running advertisements in the media suggesting that it had hundreds of “ready for development” plots which any interested member of the public with enough money could be allocated – and start developing – without encountering hurdles.

Interestingly, even people who paid fully for the said plots as long ago as November 2012 have not been issued with title deeds yet. Many are hugely distressed for having coughed up millions of shillings from their meagre earnings paying for elusive pieces of land!
But despite this conspicuous anomaly, the district council has continued to advertise even more plots – as if there was nothing wrong!

However, one of the current senior officials at the Lands ministry vowed after being sworn in by President Jakaya Kikwete only months ago that, with him in place, delays in the processing and issuance of land title deeds would be history – just as would be double or multiple allocation of plots.

Several of his predecessors made similar promises – but to no avail. It has become a tall order, and maybe he deserves more time to “acclimatise”. Only that the people’s ‘Patience Bank’ could be fast running dry!




SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN