Analyses the analyses made of The Land Act, 1999, and The Village Land Act, 1999, by Issa Shivji and Liz Wily. Includes engaging with the ministry, a national debate, lessons for civil society, genuine decentralisation, the next steps, and what lessons for Oxfam. Has an appendix of articles on the Acts.

Short report covers the prelude to the workshop, the new land law, planning and objectives, key points made in the discussions, recommendations, developments after the workshop, and summaries of the papers.

Short summary of possible different futures on the land, land laws in Uganda and Tanzania, and the work of NGO land alliances.

Series of slides presented at a talk to the Royal African Society covering land tenure in Africa: common features; book outline; West Africa; land commissions, national land policies and land laws; implementation problems; Uganda Land Act 1998; land reform in South Africa 1994-9; tenure reform blocked in South Africa; conclusions; new approaches to land rights management; role of donors; Zimbabwe land invasions – different interpretations; Zimbabwe land chronology.

Brief summary of 4 presentations at the Mokoro land seminar by Martin Adams (Mokoro) on FAO’s support for tenure, rights and access to land and natural resources: lessons from Mozambique; by Joseph Hanlon (LSE) on The Mozambique land grab myth; by Elizabeth Daley (Mokoro) on Current issues around gender and land; and by Joss Saunders (Oxfam) on Engaging in strategic litigation and working with lawyers on land, gender and access to justice.

Comparative study of Cabo Delgado, northern Mozambique, and Swaziland. Includes why land?, land ownership, its use for economic benefit/survival, the Fogao Africano/Emaseko as an analysis tool, land tenure in law and practice, land use and management, conclusions and recommendations.

Includes strategic plan for implementation of the land laws, implementation activities: setting up local land administrations and dispute mechanisms, lessons learned and challenges ahead.

Based on 2002 fieldwork in four rural communities in Manica Province. Divided into 5 sections: overview – main points; case studies and methodology; effects of the 1997 Land Law in rural communities; problems encountered during implementation; recommendations; conclusion. Includes suspicion of the legal system, effects of legal knowledge, greater awareness of rights, class inequalities, conflicts between political parties, corruption and ignorance of local officials, attitudes to investors.

An introduction, overview and historical section is followed by sections on Rwanda’s Land Policy and law, outlining main problems identified and policy objectives. Includes the nature of land rights, registration, consolidation, establishment of commissions, villagisation and urbanisation, key challenges for implementation, impact of AIDS, role of political representatives, civil society and NGOs, and sensitisation and consultation on the implementation of the Policy and the law.

An appendix from the IIED report above. Includes the role of NGOs, the national conference on land issues 1996, the anti-privatisation demonstration, the land campaign 1997-9, implementation issues.

Key findings: Customary tenure remains strong with only 1.2% of plots held under statutory tenure. Over 86% of women reported they have access to land under customary tenure and c.63% of women reported they “own” land under customary tenure. Tenure security is not dependent on formal documentation as proof of ownership. Men play a dominant role in land management. General knowledge of statutory and customary land law and management systems is poor. c.50% of the population have experienced land conflicts, 72% are within household, family or clan.

Jose Negrao died on 9 July 2005, aged 49. He was one of the most important intellectuals and researchers in Mozambique, was a leading figure in the Land Campaign and a strong defender of peasant land rights. We publish this interview with him in recognition of and in mourning a great and truly independent fighter who did not conform to what others expected but always pursued his own way. He was hugely influential during the Land Campaign and his success then derived from the fact that people trusted his integrity and his independence.