THE COMPLEXITY OF LAND USE AND LAND LAWS IN ZAMBIA

Why is understanding land use and land use laws important?

Land has been credited for securing means to a livelihood and hence for building wealth. Because land renders socio-economic assets, under conditions of land constraints and/or scarcity, land has been a reason for ethnic conflicts and civil wars. In Third World countries, land is conventionally regulated as a common-use resource, albeit owned by a chieftain. Therefore, laws affecting land use and the resources featured within the land spaces are imposed from above. When exogenous actors gain access to land and corresponding resources as an outcome of political relationships, such as colonialism, foreign-trade, etc., local village access and entitlements are restricted. Understanding land use is, therefore critical to understanding how to manage and regulate land ownership and use.

Land use, access, and management in Zambia, not unlike other developing countries, has been affected by trade and colonial relations. Land ownership today is guided by customary law and common law. The former, customary law, stems from African customs and is the method by which Zambians conduct their land activities, which include contractual claims regarding marital inheritance, ownership, and disputes. Zambians mediate land activities in the local courts, which in judicial language means the lower district courts.

Common law is derived from the establishment of the English colonial government in 1924, which placed significant hectares of land as Reserves or that of the British Crown. The latter was open to only Europeans, an edict that forcibly evacuated Zambians, but reserves were open to Africans. Reserved lands are located in some of the most agriculturally prime areas. After colonialism ended in 1964, Zambia acquired formerly Crown lands that are now designated as State Land, Freehold, Reserves, and Trust lands.Reserves and Trust lands fall under the de-facto management rights of the Chieftains, although power is diluted, and is a status that was extended to them as a diplomatic gesture. Much of commercial agriculture in Zambia are held in State land, the bounties of which are channeled to urban areas. Now, 94 percent of lands fall under the administration of the Zambian government.

Like most countries, gender ownership has been delayed by customary laws limiting land ownership to men. Civic groups have proselytized for equal opportunity in land ownership laws, arguing that women in ownership of land will encourage productivity because they are likely to invest more in land they own, reduce economic hardship, as land is the gateway to livelihoods, and will empower women, overall.

The climate of Zambia differs across the country, modified by altitude. The southern western areas, home of the Luangwa Valley, are very arid and are prone to erosion, while other parts, specifically the Zambezi area, are flood prone. Around the Zambezi region, rain fall (precipitation) can average as high as 55 inches. Agricultural development is challenged by climatic variations and land use history.

I thank Martin Adams and the Online Edition of Britannica for improving my knowledge of Zambian land use laws.

FUNDRAISING UPDATE: I am now at $280, which includes the checks I have collected at the door and over Christmas. I would like to break $300 by this weekend. Please visit "My Fundraising Page" to the left of this blog and donate today.

Bangweulu Swamps. Photograph. Encyclopædia Britannica Online. Web. 17 Jan. 2011. <http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/media/120057/Swamps-

Zambia. Map. Encyclopædia Britannica Online. Web. 17 Jan. 2011. <http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/media/70837/>.]

ABOUT ZAMBIA: GEOGRAPHY AND DEMOGRAPHICS

Zambia (map courtesy of EveryCulture.com)

Whenever I tell people in Sunderland and Amherst and the surrounding areas about my placement in Zambia, many ask me where exactly is Zambia, how large is it, and how many people live there? So, I decided to devote this blog to informing those not familiar with Zambia with demographic, geographic, and other interesting cultural tidbits to orient them, as well as me, to the background, yet very pertinent, information that will help me in my placement. I found this really nice map on Everyculture.com and thought it nice to add it here as a way of helping everyone visualize the location of this country on the African continent.

As you can see from this map, Zambia is landlocked and is surrounded by neighboring Mozambique, Angola, Botswana and Zimbabwe to the immediate south, Tanzania, and the Democratic Republic of Congo to the north. As I have mentioned in other blogs, Lusaka is the capital city and is very modern and populated. The country is made up of wildlife, undulating hills and mountains, and natural water resources. The Victorian Falls, located in the southern region, is one of the main destinations for enterprising tourists.

Because most development takes place in the major cities of Zambia, most of the 9.87 million people living around the country reside in cities. In fact, almost half of the population are in urban areas, where most of the jobs are. Rural residents, who rely primarily on subsistence farming, comprise most migrants, but Zambia has also accepted refugees from the Democratic Republic of Congo and Angola.

Although Zambia is known for being a British colony (1924-1964), it was also occupied by other European nations, such as Portugal, and has had its fair share of missionaries. David Livingstone, to whom one of the cities is commemorated, was an industrious missionary, who fought to end slavery in Zambia. There are seventy five different tribes residing throughout the nation who live relatively peacefully with each other. The main tribes are the Bemba, Nagoni, Lozi, Chewa, Chokwe, Lunda, Luvale, Tonga, and Tumbuka, which also reflect the major geographical languages. The large ethnic diversity, however, is mediated by the "One Nation, One Zambia" ideology, promulgated and promoted by former President, Kaunda.

The food culture is another important and interesting characteristic of Zambia, but is best left for another blog date.

Fundraising note: Many thanks to my cousin, Abe, who donated yesterday. His gift brings my total to $255.

ZAMBIA COUNTRY PROFILE

Even if you have never been to the African continent, you can probably imagine the level of poverty in a country like Zambia. Not unlike residents of other Third World countries, Zambians live in abject poverty. Per capita Gross National Income (GNI) is only USD$320. According to poverty reports from the World Bank, more than a million Zambians live on USD$1.00 per day, a level of poverty that exists in even in the more affluent major cities, like Lusaka, the capital of Zambia.

Poor sanitation and poverty results in high infant (about 300 per 1000 live births) and maternal (650 per 100,000 live births) mortality rates. The average life expectancy is only 35 years. HIV Aids places an additional burden on Zambia's weak healthcare capabilities. The number of facilities are inadequate and they do not have the ability to care for HIV Aids patients.

Unlike the counterparts of Third World countries, such as the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom, there is no safety net (i.e. unemployment insurance, housing subsidies, food stamps) to assist the poor with living. Zambians are no less affected. Poor Zambians have to rely on charity, aid programs to help them develop the infrastructure and skills capacities to become more self-sustaining. In some communities, they have to walk for miles just to fetch their daily drinking water and some have to boil it to make sure it is safe for drinking. Daily living, literally, becomes a process of scraping for food and water.

Zambia does have capacities that represent potential for sustainable development. Reports from those who know Zambia report of its beautiful landmarks everywhere, embodied in the mountainous terrains and the spectacular natural wonders (i.e. Victoria Falls, Zambezi River). Its rich soils produce a bounty of various crops that range from fruits (i.e. sugar cane, avocado, grapes) to grains (i.e. wheat and rice). These are only some of the foods grown there. The literacy rate (87% males, 75% females) indicates an educated workforce that would be receptive to capacity trainings.

The government is seeking to diversify its economic exports, a decision learned after the country's income (GNP, GDP) plummeted from the drop in the value of copper, which was Zambia's primary industrial export. The government also hopes to gain dollars from the growing tourism market.

Dreams are thwarted by poverty. To cope psychologically, the poor settle for philosophies that make them feel better about their situation. In the Philippines, the saying "bahala na" means "well, just leave it alone", which is to say that fate must be left up to God because there is nothing they can do about it. From where the poor are on the Kuznet's inequality curve, this is true. But to those, who can influence change and betterment, "bahala na" is simply an excuse. The situation in Zambia clearly justifies aid and volunteer support from individuals and agencies that have the willingness and the ability to help.

Please visit my fundraising webpage and donate today to support the community work of CUSO-VSO.  Even if you have only $10 to give, that is still $10 more than yesterday.

MY FUNDRAISING PAGE IS UP

Okay, so all of my blogs so far have been about fundraising for my placement. I realize that this is a bit obsessive, but I had to get all my ducks in a row and make sure that all the web logistics were taken care of before I can proceed onto other meaningful subjects.

 A little explanation is needed, I think. On the left side of my blog page, you will see two links under the heading, "Volunteer". One is the link to CUSO-VSO, which informs everyone about CUSO-VSO. Besides the individual stories from volunteers, I would encourage everyone to also read about CUSO-VSO's history and the length of time they have been sending volunteers overseas. Their mission statement is also important because it describes the scope of their work, which indicates the greatest needs afflicting indigent communities. After reading the impact of CUSO-VSO volunteers in developing countries, how does one not want to give?

Above the CUSO-VSO link is a weblink to my personal fundraising page, which I found to be particularly impressive. The page is a personal appeal for funds, complete with two images and an hour glass figure that tracks my progress by indicating the amount of dollars I raise, day by day. As you can see, my total dollar goal is USD$3,000, which can be broken down as USD$2,000 through on-line contributions and USD$1,000 through door-to-door canvassing. Upon my return, I will be giving several presentations, complete with photographs, to describe our work in the Singazongwe District. I anticipate raising more funds from this presentation and possibly recruiting some volunteers from around the Pioneer Valley.

Donors can contribute directly through my fundraising webpage. It has security features, allowing you to give with a credit card. If you prefer to send checks by snail mail, there is a place for you to enter your information and then send a check. If you choose this option, please remember to write the check to "CUSO-VSO" and not to me (Camille) because the funds do not help me directly, but rather the overall work of CUSO-VSO. Instead, my name should be placed in the memo part of the check, which on most is at the lower left hand (southwest) corner.

Please disregard the fundraising start date on my page. It reads May 1, 2009 (8:30 a.m.). The start date for me is actually today, December 13, 2010 at 4:00 p.m.

Last night, I discussed with my sister how I can kick start this campaign and she came up with the idea of commemorating it with the upcoming holidays. She argued that because Christmas is a time of giving, people might feel generous enough to give the minimum request of $10 on behalf of someone they care about. What a wonderful idea! End the holiday with a new relationship with a developing country community OR start the new year doing the same! Donors' names will be listed on my fundraising webpage. Thus, as part of a donor community, you can see how your contribution helps to the total dollar amount and become a mini-celebrity for as long as my fundraising page runs! I will be asking my family members to contribute to CUSO-VSO instead of buying me Christmas gifts. The contribution won't edible or wearable, but will definitely be tangible and will last longer.

Over the next few days, I will be preparing some country briefings and writing about the culture of Zambia to generate stronger incentives to participate. If you thought today's blog was verbose, wait until you read the one tomorrow. Keep checking back here. . . if you dare! Just kidding.

ORIENTATION: CUSO-VSO AND VOLUNTEERING

Yesterday, my older sister, Monique, made me aware of the fact that most people would not know what CUSO-VSO is or what I am doing with them. Here are some background facts.

Early this year (February, 2010), after lodging an initial application, I was invited to attend an assessment day, an important part of the recruitment process, on April 29th. Thereafter, I was selected as a volunteer to serve in the Singazongwe District in Zambia for 6 to 12 months. Because this is a new placement, the coordinators have assigned a SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) analysis to me, which would entail  compiling information about capacities, resources, assets, after first meeting with the planning officers of the district, and identifying opportunities for improving poverty and strengthening capacities. Six months is a good time frame to gather information and then begin prioritizing. Subsequent plans will likely come from the initial six months. My placement assignment includes finding and compiling a list of large funding sources, such as major aid foundations, government aid agencies, that could be drawn on to fund future urban and community planning projects that arise from both the SWOT analysis and meetings with the planning officers.

CUSO-VSO spends about CD $30,000 to send a volunteer overseas, and being a non-profit, volunteers are asked to take some responsibility for collecting at least $2,000 through fundraising. This is the reason many of you are being notified of these blogs. I, for one, like that I am being given responsibility for my placement.

My fundraising strategy is to break the tactics down into three segments. The first is to approach and secure donations from my family, circle of friends, and through my media social network. Those connected to these networks should expect to get regular updates of my progress. The second segment is to canvass people in my community to introduce residents to the work that CUSO-VSO does and to potentially recruit future new volunteers from America into CUSO-VSO. Finally, I plan to do a presentation that showcases my experience after returning from Zambia. It will include information about the work that we, in the Sinazongwe District, did and, of course, introduces residents to the culture and people of Zambia.

More information about CUSO-VSO can be obtained from their website. I created a link, which is positioned to the left of this blog page under "Volunteers". All volunteers are also given the option of setting up a fundraising page through CUSO-VSO, which counts dollars and reports progress.

Meeting dollar amounts is better visualized when I set goals for myself. Thus, for the next six weeks before I leave, I intend to:

• Speak with 200 people.
• Seek a minimum of $10.00 (to start) from each person to meet my basic amount of $2,000.
• Provide incentives to give more (i.e. $50 for a postcard from Zambia with a short note every three months). 

My blog will be up throughout the duration of my placement and I anticipate that people will be motivated to give more as they read the progress made in the Sinazongwe District. My after-placement presentation will also involve raising funds, giving the opportunity to contribute to those who have not already done so.

Beginning Tuesday (December 14, 2010), I will provide details of where to send contributions. At that time, I also hope to have my fundraising page up and running. I hope to hear from many of you.