WOMEN
AND LAND IN ZAMBIA: A CASE STUDY OF
SMALL-SCALE FARMERS IN CHENENA VILLAGE, CHIBOMBO DISTRICT, CENTRAL ZAMBIA
Gear
M. Kajoba *
Abstract:
The paper shows that most women in Zambia and especially in the study area
suffer from insecurity in land since they do not have secure title to land under
customary tenure. The results from the research which was carried out using semi
structured interviews with 34 female farmers show that the majority of women
farmers (62%) were not allocated land directly by headmen but got land through a
male contact. However, some women were successful small-scale farmers and,
together with the majority, expressed the need for more information on how to
secure individual title to the land which they cultivate. Such empowerment of
women would require cooperation from traditional leaders who have the power to
allocate land to women, especially to single women, divorcees and widows, who
tend to be marginalised.
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