CONTRIBUTION OF CIVIL SOCIETY IN RWANDA’S LAND REFORM PROCESS

“The success of Rwanda Land Reform Process is rooted in the successful partnership between the Government and the Civil Society since the start of the process in 1999”, proudly states Ms. Annie Kairaba, the Director of Rwanda Initiative for Sustainable Development (RISD).  RISD is local Non-Government Organization and is the lead in land reform process in Rwanda, which has consistently engaged in the process since 1999 at the inception phase till now at implementation and monitoring phase.

The strength of RISD is her capacity to network and engage other civil society organizations as well as government institutions and donors.  Since 1^st March 2012, RISD in partnership with Collectif des Ligues et Associations de Défense des Droits de l’Homme” (CLADHO), is implementing a project on “Securing Land Rights” as a continued but unique civil society contribution to the sustainability of the Rwandan Land Reform Process. This is a three year project that is scheduled to end on the 28^th February 2015.

Rwanda Land Reform is implemented through a government program known as the “Land Tenure Regularization Program” (LTRP). Hence, RISD project’s main objective is to contribute to the effective implementation of the LTRP towards poverty reduction and sustainable peace.

This objective will be achieved through the capability of Abunzi to document and resolve pending land related disputes as follow-up to the LTRP. The Project is implemented in 10 districts on a pilot basis during the first year of the project, 2012, and is scheduled to expand to a total of 15 districts during the year 2013, with a vision of covering all 30 Districts by end of the project in 2015.

The 10 project districts for 2012 are: Gasabo and Kicukiro (Kigali Province); Kirehe and Kayonza (Eastern Province); Musanze and Muhanga (Nothern Provice); Kamonyi and Nyaruguru (Southern Province); Rubavu and Karongi (Western Province). The 5 districts the project will expand to in 2013 are: Nyarugenge, Nyagatare, Gicumbi, Nyabihu, and Gisagara.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         

“If implemented as planned, I am convinced that, by the end of this project in 2015, land related pending cases will have reduced by between 75% - 80%”, asserts, Mr. Anastase Balinda, the Executive Secretary of the Mediators Secretariat in the Ministry of Justice. 

Although RISD has implemented other land related programs, this particular project demonstrates an effective engagement of stakeholders. The project is implemented by civil society in partnership with the Natural Resource Authority Office and the MINIJUST, through the Mediators Secretariat; and is funded by the Kingdom of the Netherlands with technical expertise contributions from Deutsche Gesellschaft fuer Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) and the Inter Church Organization for Development Cooperation (ICCO).    

“A Community with no disputes related to land is a strong indicator sustainable poverty reduction strategy and sustainable peace in the Country, and this is the biggest commitment of RISD contribution as we rebuild our nation”, states, the Right Rev. Bishop, Nathan Gasatura, the Chairperson of RISD’s Board of Directors.

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Gender Equality: It’s smart and it’s right

The current inequities in land access also raise a human rights issue. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights recognises the right to property for all. This includes the right to land, which is the most important physical asset in poor agrarian economies. The Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) calls for equal rights of both spouses in terms of the ownership, acquisition, management, administration, enjoyment, and disposition of household property (Article 16).

A number of promising innovations for improving women’s access to land are being tested. For example, Ethiopia, Rwanda, Colombia, Peru, and Nicaragua have introduced joint land titling for spouses. In Nepal, a tax exemption (of 10 per cent in 2008, subsequently increased to 25–40 per cent) helped raise the number of households reporting women’s access to land ownership from 11 per cent in 2001 to 35 per cent in 2009.

http://blogs.oxfam.org/sites/blogs.oxfam.org/files/gender-equality-smart-right-niasse-dec2012.pdf

Hatangijwe inama mpuzamahanga ku igenagaciro ry’ubutaka

• Nsengiyumva Fidèle
• 11/12/2012
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Umuyobozi muri RNRA, ishami rishinzwe kubarura ubutaka, Eng. Didier Giscard Sagashya (Ifoto/Nsengiyumva F.)

Mu gihe mu gihugu cy’u Rwanda hari gutezwa imbere politiki iboneye ku micungire y’ubutaka hagamijwe ko bwakoreshwa neza bugatanga umusaruro ku buryo buri munyarwanda yihaza mu biribwa ndetse akanasagurira amasoko; hagiye hakorwa gahunda zitandukanye harimo guhuza ubutaka kugira ngo bukoreshwe neza ndetse no kubwandikisha.

Ku wa 10 Ukuboza 2012, muri Hotel Lemigo hateraniye inama mpuzamahanga yahuje abafatanyabikorwa mu by’ubutaka baturutse muri Afurika y’Iburasirazuba ndetse no ku mugabane w’u Burayi aho barebera hamwe uburyo nyuma yo kwandikisha ubutaka bwakagombye kubyazwa umusaruro mu bikorwa bitandukanye harimo kubutangaho ingwate kugira ngo nyirabwo abone inguzanyo imufasha kwiteza imbere.

Nk’uko ikinyamakuru Izuba Rirashe cyabitangarijwe n’umuyobozi mu Kigo cy’igihugu gishinzwe umutungo kamere (RNRA), ishami rishinzwe ibijyanye n’ubutaka Eng. Didier Giscard Sagashya, muri iyi nama abafatanyabikorwa bagiye guhanahana ubunararibonye mu buryo bashyiraho politiki z’ubutaka; no ku buryo umuntu aha agaciro ubutaka.

Eng. Sagashya ati: “Bamwe mu baturage wasangaga bahura n’ikibazo cyo kwimurwa bakajya impaka bavuga ko babahaye amafaranga make atajyanye n’agaciro k’ubutaka bwabo, ariko muri iyi nama turahigira uburyo mu bindi bihugu baha agaciro mu mafaranga ubutaka dore ko bugira agaciro katangana bitewe n’aho buri.”

Mu guha agaciro mu mafaranga ubutaka, abaturage batuye ahantu nyaburanga baba bafite ubutaka buhenze kurusha ahandi, nyuma yo kubuha agaciro umuturage kandi azaba ashobora kuba yabubyaza umusaruro ku buryo butandukanye harimo kuba yabugira ingwate mu mabanki.

Eng. Sagashya akomeza avuga ko mu Rwanda hari politiki y’ubutaka n’amategeko bisobanutse ndetse n’igikorwa cyo kubarura ubutaka cyagenze neza, igisigaye akaba ari ugutangiza iyi gahunda yo guha agaciro ubutaka mu mafaranga, buri wese akamenya umutungo yabaruje uko agaciro kawo kangana.

Abajijwe ku bijyanye na politiki yo guhuza ubutaka, Eng. Sagashya yatangaje ko iyi gahunda yatangiye mu rwego rwo gukemura ikibazo cy’udusambu duto usanga abantu bafite hagamijwe gushyira hamwe bakongera umusaruro, ubutaka ntibube ubwo gutunga umuntu kugira ngo adapfa gusa ahubwo bubashe kumuteza imbere.

Umuhuzabikorwa w’umuryango wa Loni ushinzwe kurwanya ubutayu UNCCD ishami rya Afurika Boubacar Cisse, yatangarije iki kinyamakuru ko kubarura ubutaka umuntu akamenya agaciro kabwo mu mafaranga ari ingenzi kuko bituma abasha kubucunga.

Boubacar ati: “Kugira ngo hakorwe politiki nziza y’ubukungu n’igenamigambi hashingirwa ku byo umuntu afite; ibi bimenyekana binyuze mu kuba wahaye agaciro ubutaka ndetse bikanifashishwa nk’ibipimo by’ubukungu, bigatuma hatangwa imibare y’ubukungu ishingiye ku kuri .”

Eng. Sagashya yasoje avuga ko gahunda yo guhuza ubutaka yatangijwe mu gihugu cyacu mu myaka ya 2008/2009 izagira uruhare mu kugeza ku Banyarwanda ku iterambere rigamijwe mu cyerekezo 2020, aho buri Munyarwanda azava ku musaruro ungana n’amadorari 600 akajya ku madorari 1200 ku mwaka.

Source: Izuba

Civil society steps up efforts to address land disputes

People tilling land. The New Times / File.

Civil Society Organisations dealing with land related issues under their umbrella organisation, LandNet Rwanda Chapter, have reaffirmed their commitment to support the population to address land disputes.

Speaking at the association’s general assembly on Wednesday, the Coordinator, Annie Kairaba, said that as the land registration exercise comes to a close, there are many other challenges that need to be addressed.

"Previously, most Rwandans did not reorganise the value of land as it is today or after registering it; and this is creating fresh disputes especially among family members," Kairaba said.

She explained that family members have realised that land tittles do not only prove ownership, but also give chances of accessing loans from financial institutions.

Kairaba, who is the Country Director of Rwanda Initiative for Sustainable Development (RISD), observed that despite the positive impact of the land registration exercise, there is need to monitor the population to ensure that land disputes are avoided.

The meeting that also aimed at assessing the role of CSOs in the implementation of the land reforms considering the Land Policy and Law through advocacy to protecting rights of property owners, attracted among others representatives from Rwanda Natural Resource Authority (RNRA).

During the general assembly, participants from various organisations were given a chance to express their expectations from Land Net as well as what they plan to do in hitting the organisation’s target.

In 2004, an organic law on land was enacted to guarantee a safe and stable form of land tenure. This paved way for registering land for individuals to own it unlike before when it was considered government property.

Eng. Didier Giscard Sagashya, Deputy Director General for Lands and Mapping at RNRA, appreciated the role of CSOs in addressing land disputes.

He gave an over view of what has so far been done and future plans to have the exercise completed.

"In seven districts, work is totally complete and we are distributing land tittles as we also work towards completing the remaining districts," he said. The districts include Kirehe, Bugesera, Rwamagana, Kamonyi, Kicukiro, Nyarugenge and Gasabo.

Sagashya is optimistic that the target to have land titles issued across the country by December 2013 will be met.

Source: The Newtimes

First Africa Land Forum: Challenging times for indigenous peoples and pastoralists in Africa

November 14, 2012, Yaoundé, Cameroon -

From November 7-8, 2012, 95 participants from 22 countries convened at the Hotel Franco in Yaoundé, Cameroon for the 1st Africa Land Forum with the theme ‘Securing the land rights of indigenous people and rural communities’. The forum was organized by the Mbororo Social and Cultural Development Association of Cameroon (MBOSCUDA) and the International Land Coalition (ILC) Africa.
The Africa Land Forum included presentations from nationally recognized activists and land rights experts in Cameroon, including Dr. Manu Ibrahim, lecturer at the University of Dschang, Mr. Abdoulaye Harrissou, acclaimed author of 'Land, a human right: micro-properties, social peace and development' and the esteemed Hawa Bouba of MUSAB Cameroon. ILC Africa members from throughout Africa presented their achievements and lessons learned for promoting people-centred land governance at the national level. The importance of gender equity and women’s land rights was a central theme throughout the Forum.
During his keynote speech, MBOSCUDA National President El Hadj Jaji Manu Gidado, declared “Our country, Cameroon, is made up of 240 different ethnic groups, including the Mbororo and Pygmies. MBOSCUDA is one of the principle organizations advocating for their political and socio-economic emancipation”. He exclaimed,. “Every day land is becoming more precious. The rich are becoming more interested in land that belongs to the  indigenous and rural poor communities, who are considered as everlasting strangers who must one day leave their land. We are saying no, we are all Cameroonians, we are all Africans, and all of us have the same rights.”
On the second day of the Forum, a delegation of ten forum participants, including ILC Africa Chair Odenda. Lumumba, Mr. Gidado, representatives of indigenous people in Kenya and Madagascar, and the ILC Secretariat were summoned by Cameroon Prime Minister Philémon Yunji Yang to discuss national land reform and indigenous peoples.
Musa Usman, MBOSCUDA Vice President, articulated their discontent with the marginalization of indigenous people in Cameroon from decision-making processes to the Prime Minister. Mr. Lumumba explained ILC’s program supporting the development of National Engagement Strategies (NES) for collaborative land policy reform processes that bring together diverse stakeholders, including governments, and how this process could be relevant to the land reforms of Cameroon.
Emphasizing his support for engaging with MBOSCUDA in the land reform process, Mr. Yang said, “I am very hopeful that organisations like yours can help us in the land reform process. The ILC can help support governments in this regard by sharing lessons learned elsewhere.”
At the end of the forum, participants unanimously approved the Yaoundé Declaration, which identifies emerging issues and challenges on land issues and details eight recommendations focused on African governments, in particular the government of Cameroon. The Yaoundé Declaration highlighted both the Africa Land Policy Framework and the Voluntary Guidelines on the Responsible Governance of Tenure of Land, Fisheries and Forests in the Context of National Food Security, and calls on governments to reform of national land processes to adhere to them.
ILC Africa Chair Odenda Lumumba said, “This declaration will guide our future dealings and concerns about land issues in Africa. It’s not going to be easy, as land in agriculture in Africa basically serves vested interests.” Many African countries are now developing new national land frameworks.
To read the full Declaration issued by the land forum, visit: http://www.landcoalition.org/news/yaounde-declaration-1st-ilc-africa-land-forum
The program and presentations can be downloaded from the ILC website: http://www.landcoalition.org/events/1st-africa-land-forum-securing-land-rights-indigenous-people-and-rural-communities
Pictures of the land forum can be viewed on Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/landcoalition/sets/72157631944415004/

Source: International Land Coalition