Z’bar to digitise land records to end disputes
ZANZIBAR: IN a bid to mitigate land conflicts, Zanzibar is set to implement the Land Administration Registration Information System (LARIS), a project being undertaken by the French firm IGN FI.
Isles Minister for Land and Housing Development, Ms Rahma Kassim Ali stated: “We anticipate that through LARIS, we will resolve many of the land conflicts that continue to pose significant challenges in land administration on the Islands of Unguja and Pemba.”
The statement followed the signing ceremony in Mbweni, where Zanzibar’s Principal Secretary for Land and Housing Development, Ms Fatma Rajab and IGNFI’s General Manager, Mr Christophe Dekeyne, formalised the agreement.
The project aims to address land disputes effectively.
Ms Rahma emphasised that the LARIS project aligns with Zanzibar Vision 2050, the Zanzibar Development Plan (ZDP 2021/2025), Land Law No. 6/2015, the 2018 Land Policy and the ruling party’s CCM 2020-2025 Election Manifesto.
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She noted that with Zanzibar’s limited land area of 2,462 square kilometres and a growing population of 1.8 million (as of the 2022 Census), managing land resources efficiently is crucial.
Additionally, climate change and rising sea levels are exacerbating erosion, further stressing land management.
Most land in Zanzibar remains unregistered and undocumented, leading to disputes and conflicts.
Ms Rahma expressed gratitude to IGN FI for partnering with the Zanzibar government on this twoyear project.
Principal Secretary Ms Fatma Rajab expressed optimism about the positive impact of LARIS on political, social and economic development.
Mr Dekeyne described the signing as a significant milestone after nearly two years of preparation, which included feasibility studies, technical and financial assessments and contract negotiations.
He explained that IGN FI has spent the past 15 years developing comprehensive land administration projects aimed at enhancing land security, expediting processes, reducing conflicts, increasing revenue and boosting user confidence in land administration.
