Tanzania’s new land policy in the pipeline has cut short the years that a foreigner can lease land in the East African nation from 99 years to 33 years.
According to the East African, the National Land Policy draft that is expected to be enforced by early next year if passed into law will see visitors allocated a quarter period to the initial period allowed to lease land.
Tanzania Ministry of Lands and Settlement Development has released the bill to public scrutiny. According to the bill a foreigner is anybody who is not a Tanzanian or a corporate whose controlling interests belongs to non-citizens.
To purchase a parcel of land from individuals or companies, once the buyer and seller have agreed upon the price, the seller is required to surrender the land title to the Commissioner of Lands in order to re-issue it in the name of TIC, which will eventually prepare a derivative right for an investor, reads the draft.
“The government intends to protect the rights of Tanzanians and will also ensure the land occupied is being used for the purpose attained, “ said land rights advocate Herman Lupogo to the East African
The draft National Land Policy allows foreigners to directly own land (occupational rights) but not hold it on behalf of others (derivative rights).
