Abstract:
This study was carried to assess the effectiveness of traditional approaches in peace building
in Morogoro Region, Tanzania. The specific objectives of the study to find out the extent to
which traditional approaches adopted are used in resolving conflicts between farmers and
pastoralists in the study area, to determine the impacts of traditional approaches in
strengthening peace building in the study area and to examine the challenges of traditional
approaches in restoring and sustaining peace in the study area. The study was guided by the
Deutsch’s theory of constructive conflict resolution while conceptual was developed to
establish relationship between independent and dependent variables. The study used cross
sectional research design, mixed research approach whereby stratified and purposive
sampling strategies were used to select 123 respondents. Both primary and secondary data
were used and the data collection instruments included questionnaire and interview
instruments. Data were analyzed using descriptive analysis and inferential analysis with the
aid of SPSS and content analysis for data that were gathered through interview. The study
found that to large extent traditional approaches namely mediation, reconciliation, negotiation
as well as adjudication play significant in resolving conflicts between farmers and pastoralists
in the studied areas. The study also revealed that the traditional approaches namely
mediation, reconciliation, negotiation as well as adjudication have major impact in
strengthening peace building in the study area. The study indicated that the identified
challenges do not affect the practice of traditional approaches in restoring and sustaining
peace in the study area, though their impacts are less. The study concluded that traditional
approaches are effective in peace building. The study recommended that the leadership of the
studied areas should continue using the stated traditional approaches such as mediation,
reconciliation, negotiation as well as adjudication since they play significant in resolving
conflicts between farmers and pastoralists in the studied areas. The study also recommended
that leadership should continue improving the traditional approaches since they were found to
have major impact in strengthening peace building in the study area.
