National Land Policy.

The overall aim of the National Land Policy is to promote and ensure a secure land tenure system, to encourage the optimal use of land resources, and to facilitate broad-based social and economic development without upsetting or endangering the ecological balance of the environment. The specific objectives of this National Land Policy are to: promote an equitable distribution of and access to land by all citizens; ensure that existing rights in land especially customary rights of smallholders (i.e. peasants and herdsmen who are the majority of the population in the country) are recognized, clarified, and secured in law; set ceilings on land ownership which will later be translated into statutory ceilings to prevent or avoid the phenomenon of land concentration (i.e. land grabbing); ensure that land is put to its most productive use to promote rapid social and economic development of the country; modify and streamline the existing land management systems and improve the efficiency of land delivery systems; streamline the institutional arrangements in land administration and land dispute adjudication and also make them more transparent; promote sound land information management; protect land resources from degradation for sustainable development.The following are the main Characteristics of freehold titles which gave the government little control over land: freehold entails the exclusive possession of land rights in perpetuity. Under a freehold title, there is no term on the holding of land imposed to the owner. The Owner has the right to subdivide or lease the land etc. so as long these actions do not violate land use policies as stipulated by zoning regulations and local by-laws. There are no development conditions imposed on the title of the Owner. The Government has no right to interfere with the legal occupation and use of that right or land. The Government retained the Right of Occupancy type of land tenure which has the following characteristics: There is a definite term for the occupation and use of the land granted. Development conditions are imposed on the holder of that land. The holder of that land has no right to subdivide, transfer or mortgage the same without the consent of the Commissioner for Lands. The holder has to pay rent to the Government. Village land use plans will be used as a tool for implementing policies for better land use and management. Furthermore, village land use plans will provide a basis for guiding extension service packages including techniques in agriculture, livestock, forestry, wildlife, fisheries and environmental conservation.In order to enhance and guarantee women's access to land and security of tenure, Women will be entitled to acquire land in their own right not only through purchase but also through allocations. However, inheritance of clan land will continue to be governed by custom and tradition provided such custom and tradition is not contrary to the Constitution and is not repugnant to principles of natural justice.To resettlement of populations from land scarcity areas the following measures will also be taken: Large scale investments in agriculture and similar activities which require large tracts of land will be directed to the areas which have underutilized potential on the basis of the regional and district land use plans. Strategic land use plans will be prepared to cope with crisis situations such as resettlement of refugees or people displaced by natural disasters.