This paper does not presume to offer definitive answers to complex questions raised around the new emphasis on “local communities” in Mozambique. Such answers vary and depend upon the socio political histories of each community. Instead, the paper briefly explores the concept of local community in the lexicon of Mozambican law as well as NGO and donor discourse.

The Karamoja region in Northeastern Uganda, covering an area of 27,200 square kilometers, is inhabited by around 1.2 million people who live in seven districts; Moroto, Nakapiripirit, Napak, Amudat, Abim, Kotido and Kaabong. Its residents are mainly Ngakarimojong speaking peoples, but the area is also home to the Ethur, Labwor, Pokot, and indigenous minorities such as the Tepes and the Ik.

O presente Relatório descreve a forma como o projecto Pro-Terras Comunitárias foi implementado. Em particular, o projecto descreve as causas da realização desta pesquisa, a metodologia usada, analisa os dados obtidos e produz recomendações sobre como melhor proteger os direitos das comunidades e dos grupos vulneráveis. Este projecto foi implementado em 20 comunidades dos distritos de Jangamo, Homoine e Morrumbene, localizados na província de Inhambane e teve a duração de 18 meses.

The term ‘usurpation’ refers to the action of crafty or violent appropriation of something which is legitimately owned by someone else and is therefore; taken without right, acquired by fraud, or illegally possessed. The term is used to describe the global phenomenon of “land grabbing”, such as the rent or purchase of vast extensions of land in poorer developing countries (as is the case of Mozambique) by richer countries with food insecurity and by private investors of those same countries so as to produce or explore diverse goods for export.

O Centro Terra Viva – Estudos e Advocacia Ambiental (CTV) é uma instituição não governamental moçambicana, de investigação e intervenção ambiental, que congrega profissionais de diferentes áreas fundamentais para a gestão do ambiente e dos recursos naturais, com destaque para o Direito Ambiental, Conservação e Gestão Ambiental, Informação e Educação Ambiental, Economia Rural e Sociologia Ambiental.

Communal tenure in South Africa has had rises and falls in favour. This section will look at the issue from a pragmatic perspective of choice. This involves assessing what issues inform whether South Africa can chose either to replace or to ignore communal tenure by analysing what is likely to remain the same politically, socially and economically for the foreseeable future and what the forces are changing this situation. This assessment then allows us to assert some practical, general principles that inform the two projects with which this paper is concerned. 

Government is frequently charged with failing to finalise key policies relating to traditional authorities, for example, local government roles and functions, and communal land tenure. Whilst it is true that important issues remain unresolved, it is also true that the issues themselves are very complex and that some have become so politicised that rational debate is hindered. This section addresses some of these policy areas in a manner which hopefully enables rational debates and viable solutions. 

AFRA commissioned a research report to present and promote the positive potential of options available for stakeholders in resolving the issues currently impacting on Dukuduku Forest. Stakeholders are defined both as residents within the Forest and as key parties having a commitment to resolving the issues. This report is an executive summary of the full research report for key stakeholders.

The intention of this report is to present and promote the positive potential of options available for stakeholders both as residents within, and as key parties with a commitment to resolving the issues currently impacting on Dukuduku Forest.

The new political dispensation in South Africa was the result of a political compromise, which depended on a crucial agreement to leave many of the existing power and wealth relationships intact. The advent of democracy in South Africa presented African people with long awaited political freedom but minimal social and economic liberation. The wealth was to remain in the hands of the few and any attempts by government to reverse the status quo was thwarted by the realities of the harsh global capitalist market system.

Globally, the conservation and tourism sector is being enthusiastically promoted as one of the key mechanisms to catalyze rural local economic development. This is particularly relevant in South Africa where tourism is considered an important sector for Black Economic Empowerment and community development. However, there is increasing concern that the impact of tourism and conservation on local communities is not always beneficial and can include a range of negative livelihoods consequences.

AFRA’s work at Ekuthuleni started in 1998. It’s now 2004, six years later, and we have to confess that we have failed. It is not possible to secure tenure at Ekuthuleni, for the purposes for which people want that security, within the current legal, technical and institutional frameworks. A small window of opportunity still exists that might allow us to reverse this judgement.