Transforming cultural norms around land ownership in Tanzania
“I used to feel invisible,” Miriam Rongino says. “Even though I worked the land every day, I had no say. Now my name is on the certificate, I feel secure.” For Miriam and her partner, Mussa Tapula, from Kalambo District in Tanzania’s Rukwa Region, this simple change has reshaped their lives and their marriage.
Each morning, Miriam walked beside Mussa to their family farm, tending crops that fed their five children. Yet under long-standing cultural norms, the land belonged solely to Mussa. Many in Kalambo believed that giving women legal ownership would undermine a husband’s authority or disrupt family harmony. If a marriage ended, it was assumed a woman would remarry and gain access to land through her new partner. “We grew up believing land belongs to men,” Mussa admits. As a result, Miriam had no legal documentation, no protection, and no voice in decisions about their shared future.
Opening conversations, shifting minds
Change began within the community, through open conversations supported by the SUSTAIN Eco Project, which prioritised dialogue over paperwork. More than 350 community members—men, women, youth, elders, and religious leaders—joined open discussions on land rights, the process of obtaining Customary Certificates of Right of Occupancy (CCROs), and the value of inclusive ownership.
These conversations reached deep into households. “My partner kept talking to me,” Mussa recalls.
“The more we spoke, the clearer it became: this wasn’t about losing control, it was about protecting our family.”
From dialogue to documented rights
Awareness soon turned into action. The project supported surveys across more than 2,000 hectares in Kalambo District, resulting in over 300 CCROs issued by August 2025, of which 147 were owned solely by women and 98 were issued jointly to couples.
In Kafukoka Village, 152 CCROs were prepared, with a further 147 in neighbouring Kachele Village. As families saw the benefits—clearer boundaries and fewer disputes—interest grew rapidly, leading to more than 275 additional applications. Local government officers played a key role in registration, dispute resolution, and transparency, while SNV provided logistical and technical support to ensure genuine community ownership.
Change was not immediate or universal. Initial scepticism came even from senior officials. When the project team consulted the Regional Land Commissioner, she cautioned, “You are convincing women to own land in Kalambo; you are going against culture. Do you really think you will succeed?” Persistent, respectful dialogue eventually won acceptance.
We saw real change in people’s thinking. More women came forward, and more men supported them. That told us this was about far more than certificates. It was genuine cultural evolution.”
Community Development Officer Mariam Kimashi observed the shift first-hand
A deeper transformation
For Miriam and Mussa, receiving their joint CCRO was a turning point. “Before, I would not seek her consent on what to plant or when to sell part of the land,” Mussa says. “Now we plan together. There is peace in our home.” Miriam adds, with quiet pride, “My neighbour gave one plot to his partner and registered another in his own name. This shows how far we have come.”
Secure tenure has opened practical doors too. The couple now feel confident using their CCRO as collateral for loans, enabling investment in farming. Across the district, land-related disputes have fallen, and families are expanding agricultural activities with greater assurance.
Cultural attitudes continue to evolve. More men actively encourage joint registration, women speak up in village meetings, and young people grow up understanding that land rights belong to both parents. “I want our children to know that land belongs to both partners,” Miriam says. “That is how this change will last.”
