accumulation by land dispossession and labor ... - Land Portal

the decade it picked up towards the end. In 2008, the first year of the current global
economic crisis, the market still doubled from the previous year to ―€86 billion‖ (World
Bank 2009: 1). According URT (2008), by early 2008, Tanzania alone had over 12
projects in the pipeline for approval and one approved project with 202,271 CERs/year.
4.3 Acquiring Forestlands
The New Forests Company‘s quest for forestland in Tanzania dates as far back as 2006.
According to Kilolo District officials, at that time the company, loaded with maps from
the ministry responsible for land, came with a request of about 30,000 hectares in the
area. However, a ‗reconnaissance survey‘ conducted by the district preliminarily revealed
that it did not have such a huge area. A further, systematic, survey incorporating a
population projection only found the availability of about 6,000 hectares. Out of the 11
villages that were earmarked 6 agreed that they had available land to offer. This whole
process, the district officials consulted affirms, followed the required administrative and
legal procedures. These include gazetting for 90 days in case anyone objected to the land
acquisition and provision of compensation. Official documents – and voices – from the
villages, however, indicate that it was a ‗fiat‘, albeit contested, process.
For instance, a letter dated 16 October 2006 from the District Executive Director (DED)
directed to Idete Village Executive Office (VEO), is entitled ―YAH: MKUTANO WA
KUPITISHA MAOMBI YA ARDHI KWA KAMPUNI YA MISITU (NEW FOREST
COMPANY)‖, that is, ‗RE: MEETING TO APPROVE LAND REQUEST BY A
FORESTRY COMPANY (NEW FORESTS COMPANY).‘ It starts by reminding the
VEO that a company from the UK, in its initial stages of requesting for land, held – in
collaboration with the District Council – ‗mikutano ya uhamasishaji‘, that is,
‗promotional meetings‘ in 11 villages. In that initial stage, the letter further affirms, the
Village Council, together with villagers, has approved the request from the said company.
Then the DED thus informs, or rather directs, the VEO concerning the meeting:
Hivyo unataarifiwa kuwa siku ya tarehe 18/10/2006 siku ya jumatano kuanzia saa 3: 00
asubuhi kutakuwa na mkutano wa Wajumbe wa Halmashauri ya Kijiji (wajumbe 25) na
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