Members of Parliament in Tanzania have raised concern over the country’s ongoing land conflicts, pointing out that poor land-use planning is the main driver of disputes across many regions.

During budget discussions for the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Human Settlements Development for the 2026/27 financial year, MPs stressed that about 70 percent of land conflicts occur in areas that have not been properly surveyed.They called for urgent expansion of land planning, surveying, and issuance of title deeds to improve land governance.

Lawmakers noted that since independence, only 4,873 out of 12,333 villages in Tanzania have been properly covered by land-use planning, representing less than 40 percent coverage.They described this gap as a major weakness in the country’s land administration system.

At the same time, MPs welcomed the government’s allocation of 48 billion Tanzanian shillings to the National Land Use Planning Commission, which is expected to prepare land-use plans for about 1,410 villages in the coming financial year.However, they emphasized that timely release and proper use of funds will be crucial for success.The debate also highlighted conflicts between farmers and pastoralists, rapid urban expansion, and delays in compensation for land acquisition.MPs warned that unplanned settlements are increasing government costs and contributing to instability.They further pushed for stronger digital land systems to reduce fraud, prevent double allocation of plots, and improve transparency.

Issa Mchungahela and other legislators pointed to cases of corruption involving land brokers and officials, stressing the need for better oversight and staffing in the land sector.

Overall, MPs agreed that improved planning, digitisation, and wider access to land titles are key to reducing disputes and supporting economic development.