The political ecology of peasant-herder conflict in Mvomero district, Tanzania

Abstract

It is worthwhile to address the peasant-herder conflict because of their rampant increase in most developing countries. Rigorous and integrative studies on this aspect can significantly contribute to the growing literature in herder-peasant interactions in most Sub-Saharan African countries, and ultimately, facilitating sustainable use of available natural resources. The arrival of pastoral societies in Morogoro Region during 1990s seemed to be unproblematic because the region had large uninhabited land. Afterwards, the increase in population of both peasants and herders, and land grabbing for large scale investments compressed the people into a small area which could not carry them comfortably and peacefully. This paper investigates the causes, impacts and resolutions of peasant-herder conflict in Mvomero District, Morogoro Region, one of the most affected area by such conflict in the Central-eastern Tanzania. The results from such a study can be of help toward the establishment of new methods of curbing the authentic and potential problems in the country. The findings from questionnaire and field interviews showed that there is an increased cases of killings and confiscation of resources and wealth among the two groups. While hundreds of people are reported to be killed, thousands of them have escaped to other areas just within the past two decades. Despite of that, each group still claims to have right over resource utilization in the area. Political and socio-cultural resolution have been used to calm the situation, however, it has not yet been fruitful. For the successful resolution, therefore, there is a need to address this acute issue in a more participatory way. The harmonized policy advocacy is among the best approach to resolutions. Others may include: the review of village land use plans, creation of awareness toward herders to abandon their traditional transhumance nature of livestock keeping and adopt the sedentary livestock keeping which is economic viable and environmental friendly.