Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
Local communities formed a local flood-risk management committee to
further their case with the local authorities and the PMO, with some support
from the sub-ward/ward and a few non-governmental organizations (NGOs)
(although NGOs are not numerous in the area, and there are relatively few civil
society associations). This community action led to the construction of a local
storm-water drainage canal by the private developer that reduced the flooding
problems, but did not resolve the underlying issues.
Community action can work both ways in terms of strengthening local
resilience. On the one hand, local people have mobilized collectively and
individually to address flooding and resolve related land and water resources
issues. Individual households have engaged in the maintenance of drains and
protecting houses and assets by raising their doorsteps, cleaning and digging
new drains, hanging household assets from ceiling boards, and collecting solid
waste that may block natural drains. When a flood is in the making, the people
call local authorities on cell phones on an ad hoc basis. They temporarily relocate
from the submerged areas to higher-lying areas or to local school buildings.
There are also sub-committees of the sub-ward with responsibilities for water
and sanitation. On the other hand, the people themselves also undermine
resilience by settling in vulnerable areas, as well as by dumping solid waste in
drains or emptying pit latrines before or during the rainy season, engendering
health issues.
Both case-study areas (Bonde and Suna) show that enforcement of land-use
zoning is weak or ambivalent, allowing for continuous growth of new informal
settlements. Since poor people have few options other than to settle in these
areas, the areas are subject to a market-led informalization with limited regard
for rules and regulations (Kombe and Kweka 2012; Vedeld et al. 2012). Local
'Big Men' are involved in these informal land transactions, often in violation
of land-use zoning principles. Several respondents suggested a stronger role for
the sub-ward/Mtaa and ward levels in land-development planning and control
- a statutory role they do not have today. They are mostly involved in local
planning concerning minor development projects, not in land allocations and
management (Vedasto and Mrema 2013; Kombe and Kreibich 2006). According
to a senior planner in the Ministry of Lands, 'due to the lack of enforcement
capacity with higher level authorities, the Mtaa should be given the power to
guide development and control' (interview, MLHHSD planner, 5 June 2012).
The problem of enforcing land-use zoning is compounded by political
factors. Following the 2011 flood in the Suna settlement, the government
decided on a plan to resettle many of the flood-affected households, with support
from the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat).
However, residents came together to form a local political bureau of CCM, the
main political party, to resist what was perceived as 'forced' resettlement. This
shows how local people in informal settlements establish protection through
ties to political representatives to secure tenure and houses, against the aims
of the central government administration (interview with ward representative,
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