A Thesis Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for Award of the
Degree of Master of Business Administration (MBA) of Mzumbe University
The overall objective of the study was to assess the management of internal conflicts
between farmers and pastoralists in Mvomero District. Specifically, the study
intended to identify the sources of internal conflicts in Tanzania; to examine the
strategies used to resolve internal conflict; to examine social economic factors
leading to conflict and to find out types of conflict facing farmers and pastoralists.
Questionnaire was administered to 80 respondents whereas structured interview
guides were used to collect data from key informants. Excel was used to analyze
collected data. Results show that land availability is a major factor causing conflict
between farmers and pastoralists in Mvomero District. . Also, literature has shown
that since the land tenure system remains unclear, there are always conflicts between
peasants and nomads who keep on moving from one place to another in search for
pastures and water. Both famers and pastoralist revealed that land availability is a
major cause of conflict between farmers and pastoralists. Also, findings showed that
culture is one of the leading factors causing conflict between farmers and
pastoralists. The study found differences in belief and tribe results to conflict in
Mvumero District. There are few natural resources such as water, Land, Pasture for
animals to feed while there is unlimited want for all these resources. Conflict
between societies arise when everyone want to win these few resources. Farmers
want to expand their farms while increasing of number of livestock also force
pastoralists to want to expand their area.
The results showed that authorities take different initiatives to control conflict
between farmers and pastoralist. The district establishes laws to deal with conflict
between farmers and pastoralist. Also, the study found the authorities establish
penalty and community exchange programs. Some efforts were made to provide
training and establish good land reallocation programs to minimize conflict between
farmers and pastoralist. The study concluded that conflicts between farmers and
pastoralist can be managed and resolved with systemic thinking, which can literally
be called holistic way of thinking. The study recommended that the district council
machinery, which includes village governments, ward executive officers, and council
livestock department, and the District Commissioner, should be responsible for the
execution of laws to curb the conflict between farms and pastoralist.