Browsing by Author "Massoi, Lucy Willy"

Now showing 1 - 3 of 3

Land conflicts and the livelihood of Pastoral Maasai women in Kilosa district of Morogoro, Tanzania
(Africa Focus, 2015) Massoi, Lucy Willy
This summary of my PhD thesis analyses conflicts around land in relation to pastoral Maasai women livelihoods in Tanzania. Issues of pastoralism and land use conflicts in Tanzania are well documented in literature. However, a gendered analysis of conflicts around land in relation to land reforms (changes in the use and ownership of, and access to land and land resources), prolonged climate variability and change, and food insecurity, hardly exists in the literature. Of particular concern is the rudimentary analysis of these conflicts as it relates to pastoral Maasai women, the primary and secondary users of land in pastoral livelihoods. Data analysed in this report were collected in Kilosa district, located in Morogoro, Tanzania, one of the renowned hotspots for pastoral-farmer conflicts in Tanzania. Within Kilosa, data were collect in pastoral Maasai settlements [villages] of Twatwatwa, Kiduhi, Ngaiti, and Mabwegere, and pastoral Maasai women were central focus. Through ethnographic research methods namely focus group discussions, interviews, and participant observations, I have found that vulnerabilities to conflicts around land are gender differentiated, and that pastoral Maasai women experience climate change, food insecurity, and land reforms differently from men. An overall conclusion in this report is that, conflicts around land in Kilosa are intricate in nature and cannot be analysed from a single narrative, and pastoral Maasai women by virtue of their specific gender roles and the gender relations are hit hard. I therefore argue that, (1) for secure land reforms, the political, economic, and social structures through which land access is mediated must also be reformed; (2) there should be a holistic conflict mitigation approach and strategies in resolving conflict around land in Kilosa. The approaches should focus at engaging pastoralists and pastoralist women in particular, and their institutions and making them an integral part of the solutions. (3) Decisions dealing with climate change mitigation strategies such as the Kilosa eviction of 2009 should also involve pastoralist women whose livelihood depends directly and/or indirectly on climate sensitive resources; (4) the introduction of forage crops production [such as grasses and legumes] in Kilosa is imperative. This will assist in increasing pasture production, which eventually will boost livestock production [livestock, the main preferred food source among the pastoral Maasai]. Equally, availability
Synergy or conflict? political-administrative interactions in local governance at Kibaha Town Council, Tanzania
(2025-02-10) Kasanga, Philomena; Massoi, Lucy Willy
This study examines the impact of political-administrative interactions on local governance in Tanzania, using Kibaha Town Council as a case study. Drawing on the Political-Administrative Dichotomy (PAD) and the Classical Model of Public Administration, the study explores how these interactions influence decision-making, policy implementation, and service delivery at the local level. Using a case study design and a mixed-methods approach, data were collected from 52 respondents, including elected officials (Members of Parliament, Councilors, and Town Chairpersons) and appointed officials (District Commissioner and Town Director). A total of 52 respondents were selected using purposive and simple random sampling techniques from a population size of 91 employee of Kibaha Town Council. Qualitative data from interviews were analyzed thematically, while quantitative data were processed using descriptive and inferential statistical methods. Findings reveal that 91.2% of respondents perceive political administrative interactions as positively impacting governance, particularly in policy formulation, law-making, and development administration. However, challenges such as role ambiguity and conflicts between politicians and administrators remain significant obstacles to effective governance. This study concludes that addressing these challenges through clearer role definitions, improved communication channels, and enhanced monitoring and evaluation (M&E) mechanisms can strengthen governance structures. While the study focuses on Kibaha Town Council, its findings contribute to the broader understanding of political- administrative interactions in Tanzania’s local governance system. This research recommends the establishment of a well-defined legislative framework to streamline governance operations, ensuring that political and administrative roles complement rather than conflict with each other. Furthermore, standardized guidelines across local government authorities (LGAs) would promote consistency, collaboration and institutional efficiency.
Women in Pastoral Societies and the Church in Kilosa, Tanzania
(African Study Monographs, 2018) Massoi, Lucy Willy
Given the strong patriarchal systems still evident among the pastoral Maasai society one might think that the life of the Maasai women is bleak and difficult; but this is no longer the case. First-hand observation, in-depth interviews and group discussions obtained through an ethnographic-inspired approach revealed that increasingly in Kilosa Tanzania, there is new hope for the women once regarded as servants and properties of men under the male-dominated empire. Where state structures, services and civil society are thin on the ground, the church is increasingly becoming involved in this transformation process. Women are increasingly learning to negotiate and manipulate rules and norms, to straddle different institutions, both formal and informal and to resist the oppressive culture. The church is facilitating and promoting self-awareness to women of their own value and potentials, even as widows, single women or divorcees. Local communities and women in particular are increasingly supported, educated and empowered to manage their own lives and shoulder their reproductive and productive roles as well as decision-making roles once regarded a male-only dominion. Some have even ventured into politics and are demanding their rights to land within the patriarchal-dominated system. While the church has tried to penetrate and fight the patriarchal system, much remains to be done to fight the deep-rooted system in Maasai society.