The Ministry of Lands, Housing and Human Settlements Development has launched a nationwide initiative dubbed the Samia Land Clinic, aimed at increasing women’s access to land ownership in Tanzania, where only about 28 percent of women currently own land.
The special program is part of broader government efforts to improve land service delivery and promote gender equality in land ownership, in line with the vision of the President of the United Republic of Tanzania, Samia Suluhu Hassan.
Speaking during the launch in Dodoma on March 2, 2026, the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Anthony Sanga, said the clinic will be conducted nationwide and is scheduled to conclude on March 7, ahead of the International Women's Day celebrations.
He said the initiative seeks to increase the number of women who legally own land by providing education, issuing title deeds, and resolving land-related disputes.
“Statistics show that only about 28 percent of women in the country own land, which highlights the need to continue providing education and encouraging their participation in land ownership matters,” Eng. Sanga said.
He explained that the National Land Policy laid the foundation for gender equality in land ownership between men and women. However, implementation challenges emerged over the years, particularly in inheritance matters where customs and traditions often resulted in discrimination against women.
According to Eng. Sanga, the newly updated National Land Policy, launched by President Samia, provides clearer provisions guaranteeing equal land ownership rights for both men and women.
“The earlier policy required consideration of customs and traditions, but the new policy clearly defines equal rights to land ownership for both men and women,” he said.
He added that the revised policy also addresses inheritance issues from a gender equality perspective, creating a more enabling environment for women to own and inherit land without discrimination.
Through the Samia Land Clinic, women are receiving land title deeds, legal assistance in resolving disputes, and education on their rights and procedures related to land ownership.
The program is also intended to ensure that land-related challenges facing women are resolved quickly, while strengthening their participation in economic activities and contributing to family and national development.
Eng. Sanga urged citizens to remain calm during the exercise to ensure services are delivered professionally and efficiently.
On her part, the Government Chief Valuer from the ministry, Evelyn Baruti Mugasha, said the response to the initiative had been encouraging.
By midday on the launch day, she said, more than 160 women had already turned up to receive title deeds, with more continuing to arrive.
Ms. Mugasha encouraged women in Dodoma Region to seize the opportunity to receive education, advice and other land services, while also calling on men to cooperate in supporting women’s participation in land ownership.
“Empowering a woman to own land is a crucial step in strengthening the economy of the family and the nation as a whole,” she said.
Residents of Dodoma Region praised President Samia for prioritizing women’s access to land ownership.
A resident of Chidachi, Veronica Hamisi, said she was pleased to receive a title deed she had been pursuing for nearly three years within just one day through the clinic.
Similarly, a resident of Miyuji, Getruda Mathias, said she had struggled for five years to obtain a title deed, but managed to receive it within an hour through the program.
“I urge my fellow women to turn up in large numbers and take advantage of this opportunity before the exercise concludes on March 7,” she said.
Another resident of Ilazo, Zena Hamis, also thanked the President for prioritizing women and encouraged those who have not yet attended the clinic to do so in order to benefit from the service.
