Tanzania Land Policy and Genesis of Land Reform Sub - Component
Of Private Sector Competitivess Historical Context of Land
Tenure: Before colonialism landholding was based on customary
laws of the different tribes in Tanzania (in all 120). Title to
the land was based on traditions and customs of respective
tribes. Ownership of land was communal, owned by family, clan or
tribe. Chiefs, headmen and elders had the powers of land
administration in trust for the community. These powers
continued through the colonial era though they were limited by
the newly introduced German and later British land tenure system
under which all lands were declared to be crown and public lands
respectively. The customary land tenure is still in place, but
since 1963 the chiefs, headmen and elders have been replaced by
elected village councils.Tanzania was under German colonial rule
form 1884 to 1916 and British rule from 1917 to 1961. The
country attained its Independence in 1961. The Germans issued an
Imperial Decree in 1985 which