Women’s access to land crucial for Africa’s development

The Pan African Parliament has been asked to take up seriously the issue women’s ownership of land in Africa. Its members, debating a report submitted by the body’s Permanent Committee on Rural Economy, Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environment, noted that the rural economy of almost all countries in the continent depends on women who are deprived the right to own land. Okioma Mwancha from Kenya noted that the role of women in developing the rural sector is hampered by the fact that they do not have legal access to land. “There is a need for these issues to be taken up and relevant policies be put in place so that African women can play the role required.” He said.

According to the Kenyan representative to the Pan African Parliament, in his country women have no right to acquire land, adding that “no title deed is transferred to the wife once the husband is deceased.” Instead, honorable Okima said the title deed is given to her in-laws until her sons grow up. He said such a situation deprived the woman the right of providing with good care the children she has been left with. Okima also urged politicians who hold chunks of land without using it while others are landless to release if for the continent to be food sufficient instead of importing food from outside.

Agnes Mukabaringa from Rwanda called for enactment of legislations on succession of land. “Such legislation will lay down principles of equality on how best men and women can own land.” She said, noting that land is the fundamental property which will also allow women to use it as collateral when securing bank loans. She however, said for sustainable development, women should be encouraged to participate in macro-agricultural activities that for long have been accessed by men.

Maria-Angeline Deque Enoqe from Mozambique noted that women in her country are entitled to land, but it is difficult for them to acquire it, adding that “there is a need to form partnership for objectives of making land accessible to all to be realized”. Earlier presenting the report on the eighth sitting of the ongoing Sixth Ordinary Session of the Pan African Parliament, the Chairperson of the Committee on Rural Economy, Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environment honorable Chara Bachir from Algeria cited four workshops that have been earmarked by his team. Among them is the Rural Area Development which will focus on issues such as role of women in rural development as well as investing in rural areas.