What Does Tanzania’s New Land Policy Say on Women’s Land Rights?

In 1997, Tanzanian women faced severe restrictions on inheriting land due to customs and traditions. While they could acquire land through purchase or allocation, inheritance of clan land was largely controlled by patriarchal norms. In 2023, Tanzania’s revised National Land Policy marked a significant step forward by removing many barriers to women’s land rights, ensuring equal access and opportunities, and promoting gender balance in land governance. The policy no longer subjects women’s inheritance to discriminatory customs, improving their social and economic status. However, discrimination persists in some laws and practices, and key inheritance laws remain unchanged. Additionally, the policy’s removal of provisions recognizing customary land tenure may limit protections for women smallholder farmers and pastoralists. The author calls for continued advocacy to fully secure women’s land rights beyond this important policy milestone.