Examining the Challenges of State Land Management in Zambia

Abstract

This paper examines the challenges of state land management in Zambia. In particular, the paper examines the status of the elements of state land management which include land use planning, cadastral surveying, land allocation, land registration, and land occupation. Based on primary and secondary data, this paper argues that the current state land management is weak. Land management is characterised by weak land use planning, cadastral surveying, land allocation, land registration and land occupation. These lead to high frequency of conflicts on state land such as invasion of idle or undeveloped private or public land, illegal allocation of land by some politicians and government officials, illegal land acquisition by political cadres, boundary conflicts, double or multiple allocations of land, eviction by private landlords, and eviction by government agencies. Subsequently, the high incidence of conflicts on state land leads to a high degree of tenure insecurity. In light of the foregoing, the paper provides recommendations on how the management of state land can be improved so as to minimise conflicts on state land, to enhance tenure security.

Keywords: Land tenure, Land management, Land conflicts, Lusaka, Zambia