The changing nature of the Peri-Urban Zone in Africa: evidence from Dar-es-Salaam,Tanzania

Briggs, J.A. and Mwamfupe, D. (1999) The changing nature of the Peri-Urban Zone in Africa: evidence from Dar-es-Salaam,Tanzania. Scottish Geographical Journal, 115(4), pp. 269-282. (doi: 10.1080/00369229918737070)

Abstract

Research on the peri-urban zones of African cities since the mid-1980s has focused around three main themes, these being peri-urban agriculture as a survival strategy, debates about the relative efficiencies of peri-urban agriculture, and the question of production priorities. Drawing on recent evidence from Dar-es-Salaam in Tanzania, this paper suggest that a combination of structural adjustment measures and the eased economic crisis in Tanzania has changed conditions, the result of which has been the increasing commodification of land in the peri-urban zone during the 1990s. This has turned the per-urban zone more into a zone of investment and economic opportunity, rather than a zone of survival, with the result that the poorer urban groups are being increasingly excluded. A further complication concerns confusion arising out of current Tanzanian land law, and particularly the tensions between customary and statutory law.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Briggs, Professor John
• Authors: Briggs, J.A., and Mwamfupe, D.
• Subjects: G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GB Physical geography; H Social Sciences > HC Economic History and Conditions
• College/School: College of Science and Engineering > School of Geographical and Earth Sciences
• Journal Name: Scottish Geographical Journal
• Publisher: The Royal Scottish Geographical Society
• ISSN: 1470-2541
• ISSN (Online): 1751-665X
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 1999 The Royal Scottish Geographical Society
• First Published: First published in the Scottish Geographical Journal 115(4):269-282
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced with the permission of the Publisher