DC wants new approach in land resolutions

DODOMA: LAND officers in Dodoma Municipal Council have been urged to critically assess their approach to resolving conflicts amid rapidly growing land disputes in the central part of the country.

Dodoma District Commissioner Alhaji Jabir Shekimweri issued the call during a special land clinic organised by the Dodoma City Council in collaboration with the Regional Land Office.

The one-week clinic is expected to serve about 2,000 residents, offering services such as addressing land grievances, issuing title deeds and building permits, granting approvals for urban greening projects and providing advisory services on land matters.

DC Shekimweri underlined the need for a strategic approach to end persistent land-related complaints, saying that restoring public trust requires tangible action.

“Land disputes have been delayed for too long. We must devise a plan to resolve all pending cases once and for all,” he stressed.

He also suggested replacing the current teams handling land matters with new ones to introduce fresh ideas and innovative solutions to long standing disputes.

“We need an in-depth evaluation of why so many people continue to struggle with unresolved land disputes. The number keeps growing daily.

One day we have 500 complaints, the next day 300 and many of them are recurring cases. As leaders, we must reflect on whether our approach is effective,” he said.

He further directed authorities to establish special service desks for elderly citizens, pregnant women and mothers with infants to expedite their access to services.

On digital service delivery, DC Shekimweri instructed the City Director to ensure all online services function effectively by installing routers to facilitate WiFi access, enabling residents to seek assistance from ICT officers for self-service options.

Additionally, he called for a community-based approach to resolving disputes, urging land dispute resolution teams to conduct on-site visits for more effective intervention.

He underscored the importance of prioritising longstanding land disputes involving large numbers of residents, including Ndachi, Msalato International Airport and Industrial Area (Kizota).

DC Shekimweri urged all residents facing landrelated challenges to attend the clinic with their relevant documents, accurate information, or witnesses to facilitate the resolution process.