Evolution of Customary Land Tenure Institutions in Zambia: The Case of Lufwanyama District in the Copperbelt Province

Abstract

Customary norms, as informal institutions, contribute to social order and stability, which support economic growth and agricultural production in most rural areas of sub-Saharan Africa. Customary rights on land are granted under this structure. Traditionally, grants of rights in these areas were unwritten, while the rights themselves were undefined and untradable. However, all this is changing under pressure of various factors. This article examines the key factors responsible for this change in three chiefdoms (Shimukunami, Shibuchinga, and Fungulwe) in Lufwanyama District in the Copperbelt Province. The study finds that the demands of a cash economy, a pervasive land market, increased demand by foreign and local investors, and the state’s own actions were exerting pressure on customary tenure and contributing to increased insecurity and changing livelihood practices in the area. The response to these threats by traditional administrators is to formulate local documents, such as village and farm permits, in a bid to strengthen villagers’ rights to land. Data were collected using household questionnaires, focus group discussions and in-depth interviews.