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Implications of customary land conversions on the authority of traditional leaders: a case of Mungule Chiefdom, Chibombo District in Central Province of Zambia
This thesis examines the intricate dynamics surrounding the implications of customary land conversions on the authority of traditional leaders, with a specific focus on Mungule Chiefdom in Chibombo District, Zambia. The study investigates the multifaceted interactions between land administration and...
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| Format: | Thesis |
| Language: | English English |
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Department of Philosophy
2025
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| _version_ | 1867613215442075648 |
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| access_status_str | Open Access |
| author | Nsama, Priscillah |
| author2 | Chitonge, Horman |
| author_browse | Chitonge, Horman Nsama, Priscillah |
| author_facet | Chitonge, Horman Nsama, Priscillah |
| author_sort | Nsama, Priscillah |
| collection | Thesis |
| description | This thesis examines the intricate dynamics surrounding the implications of customary land conversions on the authority of traditional leaders, with a specific focus on Mungule Chiefdom in Chibombo District, Zambia. The study investigates the multifaceted interactions between land administration and indigenous rights preservation in various political regimes. It underscores the central role of traditional leaders in managing customary land and the challenges they face, particularly the erosion of their authority resulting from land conversions. The study employs the theory of traditional leaders' authority to elucidate key concepts and their connections to customary land conversions. Using a case study approach, the research methodology involved purposive sampling and semi-structured interviews. The participants include headmen and headwomen, local members of the Mungule community, key informants from the Ministry of Chiefs and Traditional Affairs, Ministry of Lands, House of Chiefs, academicians, historians, and representatives from the private sector. The empirical evidence analysed in this study reveals the complex dynamics and adverse implications of land conversions on traditional leadership's authority. They include conflicts with cultural beliefs, economic challenges, and the blurring of legal boundaries. Customary land conversions fragment loyalty within culturally diverse communities, as individuals align themselves with leaders who resonate with their specific identities and interests. This fragmentation is exacerbated by land conversions that shift land from communal to individual ownership under statutory tenure, thus transforming land into an economic commodity. The study also highlights the challenges posed by newcomers and external forces that challenge traditional norms and practices, further weakening traditional leadership's authority and disrupting community cohesion. The economic consequences of losing control over valuable resources compound the struggles of traditional leaders. These consequences underscore the erosion of their authority resulting from converting customary land to leasehold tenure systems, the disruption caused by the influx of newcomers, and the complexity of land exchanges negotiated financially. This study offers significant insights into the impacts of customary land conversions on traditional leadership and local communities. It reveals that the shift from customary to leasehold tenure weakens traditional leaders' authority, challenging existing understandings of land governance. Additionally, the research explores nuanced dynamics like the detachment of newcomers from cultural practices and the fragmentation of loyalty within culturally diverse communities. It underscores the importance of inclusive approaches in land governance to address challenges while preserving cultural heritage and promoting equitable development. |
| format | Thesis |
| id | oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/41865 |
| institution | University of Cape Town (South Africa) |
| language | English eng |
| last_indexed | 2026-06-10T12:32:36.207Z |
| license_str | Not specified — see source repository |
| provenance_str_mv | Harvested via OAI-PMH from UCTD — University of Cape Town Open Access Repository |
| publishDate | 2025 |
| publishDateRange | 2025 |
| publishDateSort | 2025 |
| publisher | Department of Philosophy |
| publisherStr | Department of Philosophy |
| record_format | dspace |
| source_str | UCTD — University of Cape Town Open Access Repository |
| spelling | oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/41865 Implications of customary land conversions on the authority of traditional leaders: a case of Mungule Chiefdom, Chibombo District in Central Province of Zambia Nsama, Priscillah Chitonge, Horman Traditional leaders Land conversion Zambia This thesis examines the intricate dynamics surrounding the implications of customary land conversions on the authority of traditional leaders, with a specific focus on Mungule Chiefdom in Chibombo District, Zambia. The study investigates the multifaceted interactions between land administration and indigenous rights preservation in various political regimes. It underscores the central role of traditional leaders in managing customary land and the challenges they face, particularly the erosion of their authority resulting from land conversions. The study employs the theory of traditional leaders' authority to elucidate key concepts and their connections to customary land conversions. Using a case study approach, the research methodology involved purposive sampling and semi-structured interviews. The participants include headmen and headwomen, local members of the Mungule community, key informants from the Ministry of Chiefs and Traditional Affairs, Ministry of Lands, House of Chiefs, academicians, historians, and representatives from the private sector. The empirical evidence analysed in this study reveals the complex dynamics and adverse implications of land conversions on traditional leadership's authority. They include conflicts with cultural beliefs, economic challenges, and the blurring of legal boundaries. Customary land conversions fragment loyalty within culturally diverse communities, as individuals align themselves with leaders who resonate with their specific identities and interests. This fragmentation is exacerbated by land conversions that shift land from communal to individual ownership under statutory tenure, thus transforming land into an economic commodity. The study also highlights the challenges posed by newcomers and external forces that challenge traditional norms and practices, further weakening traditional leadership's authority and disrupting community cohesion. The economic consequences of losing control over valuable resources compound the struggles of traditional leaders. These consequences underscore the erosion of their authority resulting from converting customary land to leasehold tenure systems, the disruption caused by the influx of newcomers, and the complexity of land exchanges negotiated financially. This study offers significant insights into the impacts of customary land conversions on traditional leadership and local communities. It reveals that the shift from customary to leasehold tenure weakens traditional leaders' authority, challenging existing understandings of land governance. Additionally, the research explores nuanced dynamics like the detachment of newcomers from cultural practices and the fragmentation of loyalty within culturally diverse communities. It underscores the importance of inclusive approaches in land governance to address challenges while preserving cultural heritage and promoting equitable development. 2025-09-18T12:37:25Z 2025-09-18T12:37:25Z 2025 2025-09-18T12:26:49Z Thesis / Dissertation Doctoral PhD http://hdl.handle.net/11427/41865 en eng application/pdf Department of Philosophy Faculty of Humanities University of Cape Town |
| spellingShingle | Traditional leaders Land conversion Zambia Nsama, Priscillah Implications of customary land conversions on the authority of traditional leaders: a case of Mungule Chiefdom, Chibombo District in Central Province of Zambia |
| thesis_degree_str | Doctoral |
| title | Implications of customary land conversions on the authority of traditional leaders: a case of Mungule Chiefdom, Chibombo District in Central Province of Zambia |
| title_full | Implications of customary land conversions on the authority of traditional leaders: a case of Mungule Chiefdom, Chibombo District in Central Province of Zambia |
| title_fullStr | Implications of customary land conversions on the authority of traditional leaders: a case of Mungule Chiefdom, Chibombo District in Central Province of Zambia |
| title_full_unstemmed | Implications of customary land conversions on the authority of traditional leaders: a case of Mungule Chiefdom, Chibombo District in Central Province of Zambia |
| title_short | Implications of customary land conversions on the authority of traditional leaders: a case of Mungule Chiefdom, Chibombo District in Central Province of Zambia |
| title_sort | implications of customary land conversions on the authority of traditional leaders a case of mungule chiefdom chibombo district in central province of zambia |
| topic | Traditional leaders Land conversion Zambia |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/11427/41865 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT nsamapriscillah implicationsofcustomarylandconversionsontheauthorityoftraditionalleadersacaseofmungulechiefdomchibombodistrictincentralprovinceofzambia |