2.2 Decentralization Process (1972-1982): Review of the Decentralization Process and it's Impact on Environmental and Natural Resources Management in Tanzania

Lawyers' Environmental Action Team (LEAT)
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REVIEW OF THE DECENTRALIZATION PROCESS AND IT'S IMPACT ON ENVIRONMENTAL AND NATURAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT IN TANZANIA

Introduction

Abbreviations

Legislation

PART I: Conceptual Framework and Rationale for Decentralization

	1.1 Conceptual Framework
	1.2 Background to the Environmental Problems Facing in Tanzania
	1.3 Major Environmental Problems in Tanzania

PART II: Tanzania's Experience with Decentralization: a Chronology of Events

	2.1 Introduction
	2.2 Decentralization Process (1972-1982)
	2.3 Decentralization Process (1983-1998)
	2.4 Local Government Reforms and Environmental Management

PART III: The Policy Reforms and Environmental Management in Tanzania

	3.1 Introduction
	3.2 National Forestry Policy
	3.3 National Environmental Policy
	3.5 National Land Policy

PART IV: Environmental Legislation Management by Local Government Authorities in Tanzania

	4.1 Introduction
	4.2 An Overview of Local Government Authorities
	4.3 District Local Government Authorities
	4.4 Urban Local Government Authorities

PART V: Factors Hindering Effective Management of the Environment by Local Governement Authorities

	5.1 Introduction
	5.2 Lack of Property Rights Over Natural Resources
	5.3 Weak Formulation and Implementation of Bylaws
	5.4 Poor Enforcement of Environmental Laws
	5.5 Weak Penalties and Incentives

PART VI: Practical Implications to Decentralize Environmental Management Structures

	6.1 Existing Interfaces and Linkages between Local Government Structures
	6.2 Capacity of Local Governments In Environmental Management

PART VII: Conclusions and Recommendations

	7.1 Conclusions
	7.2 Recommendations

References

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2.2 Decentralization Process (1972-1982)

The prevailing ruling party policy in the early 1970s was to reorganize the government administration so as to conform with the socialist development. Reorganization of the government was supposed to provide a system that gave more local freedom for both decision-making and participation in matters which were primarily of the local impact. Parliament enacted the Decentralization of Government Administration (Interim Provisions) Act of 1972 to implement the reorganization policies. This abolished local government authorities. Much larger District Development Councils and Regional Development Councils were formed under the 1972 law. The said law also removed local representative councils and increased the ruling party's power by providing overriding power to TANU leadership and government bureaucrats. This period of decentralization lasted for ten years and was described by Oyugi as "misleading and confusing to be called decentralization". (Oyungi, 1998: ). This period was accompanied by strong emphasis on economic planning and party domination. The period depicted a number of scenarios as discussed below.

First, power was consolidated at the grassroots level with centrally appointed regional and district heads. Secondly, Oyugi points out that there was as shift from center to local levels of well-trained and qualified personnel. Max (1991: 88) agrees and contends that during this period ("Madaraka Mikoani") the decentralized system turned the district councils into " rapid bureaucratic organizations dominated by officials…"

During this period (1972 - 1982) there was no local government system in Tanzania. District/urban development councils replaced what we might call local government system.

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