NewZ March 2004

Access to Land! Not For Women

Women in Zambia, like in many African countries, have been disadvantaged in accessing, owning and controlling land. Despite the relative abundance of land in Zambia, women find it difficult to access and own adequate and fertile land. The land issue was the theme of the MS-Zambia Annual Meeting 2003 – however, it is still crucial that partners discuss it.

By Nchimunya Nkengele, NewZ reporter

Women have to struggle to get pieces of land in their own right and women-headed households are the poorest and account for about 30% of the rural households.

These households tend to have less fertile land, smaller plots than those owned by men-headed households, yet women are the major food producers (over 80%) in the country.

The Zambian Government seems to have recognised this imbalance and has taken women as a category of people that require special attention.

As such the national draft Land Policy of 2002, which is being implemented, provided that 30 percent of land, be demarcated and located to women and groups with special needs, while the remaining 70 percent should be competed for by both women and men.

Intentions with limitations

This positive intention however, has it’s own limitations. First, the statement in the draft policy is ambiguous. It does not specify how much land should go to women and what proportion “groups with special needs” should acquire. The definition of the latter groups is also not provided for in the document, as such land administrators have problems implementing this provision. (Excerpt from Women and Land in Zambia)

The Land issue was one of the issues that created tense debates during the 2003 MS-Zambia, Annual Meeting. Facilitating the discussions last year were three representatives from different groups: Chieftainess Nkomeshya Mukamambo ll, who expressed the views of the traditional rulers. The Surveyor General Mr. Daniel Mubanga, who represented the government and Mr. Lameck Simwanza from Women for Change, who represented civil society. (The debates are reflected in NewZ No. 29)

Ongoing debate

As a follow up to last year’s debate information on the status of the draft land policy was provided. However, MS-Zambia Programme Officer Mr. Phiri expressed disappointment at the lack of communication from partners since the last Annual Meeting on how they havd contributed to the discussions on the draft land policy or information they had aqired.

“It is an ongoing and very important issue that affects most of us – especially women as they have very poor access to land,” says Mr. Phiri.

Since last year MS-Zambia has liased with Zambia Land Alliance to identify ways of creating awareness among partners on the current land debate. Zambia Land Alliance has been very helpful and provided material in local languages.

“Since the debate is a continuous process MS-Zambia is wiling to support it’s partners and wont get tired of reminding the partners about this issue,” he said.