Assessment of Effectiveness of Traditional Approaches in Peace building in Tanzania:

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.