Perceived Land Scarcity and Its Effects on Traditional Tenure Rights in Rural Zambia

Abstract

This study reviews the present escalating land pressures and their effects on traditional tenure rights in rural Zambia. The paper examines the evidence from qualitative as well as quantitative research design using in-depth interviews, key informants, and Focus Group Discussions. Owing to the scarcity of experimental studies, the review of empirical work is based mostly on observational studies, which compared Chamuka chiefdom located in Chisamba and Shimukunami chiefdom found in Lufwanyama district systems of traditional land administration. The study used χ 2 test to analyze data to determine if perceived land scarcity had a significant impact on change under traditional land governance. Some evidence of positive relationships between traditional land management and perceived resource scarcity exists. It was, therefore, concluded that policy support for customary land governance has the potential to contribute to improving land use and reducing perceived land pressures in rural communities.