The Neglect of Local Residents’ Livelihood Issues in the Urbanising Peri-Urban Mwanza City, Tanzania ()
ABSTRACT
Urbanisation is a powerful force for human
development and progress in most cities. Numerous recent studies have shown that
rapid urbanisation taking place
in most cities of developing countries is associated with the destruction of
livelihood assets in the peri-urban areas. The paper assesses the impact of urbanisation on the
livelihoods of local residents in
peri-urban Mwanza City, Tanzania. In doing so, the paper applies the
trends analysis to capture the changes of livelihood assets and livelihood
vulnerability of local residents in the peri-urban settings. The sustainable livelihood framework has been
applied in the study as an analytical tool. Data were collected from 302
households in the study ward of Buswelu using both probability and
non-probability sampling approaches. Structured interviews, in-depth
interviews, field observation and documentary review were adopted as methods of
data collection. The findings exhibit that urbanisation of
peri-urban Mwanza City has destroyed the livelihood assets of most local
residents. That, in turn, has negatively affected their livelihoods. Many households have
lost their lands while others
have suffered disproportionately from highly commercialised environment in
terms of accessing goods and services. Besides, lack of knowledge and skills,
and financial constraints have significantly hampered local peri-urban
residents from taking the opportunities created by the urbanisation process.
This study establishes that urbanisation has affected the peri-urban local residents’
livelihoods due to loss of assets during the passage from nature-based resource
provisioning to the urban economy. It is, therefore, recommended that cities
and municipal authorities should address the livelihood needs of peri-urban
local residents for inclusive and sustainable peri-urban livelihoods.
Share and Cite:
Kaganga, L. (2023) The Neglect of Local Residents’ Livelihood Issues in the Urbanising Peri-Urban Mwanza City, Tanzania.
Current Urban Studies,
11, 72-95. doi:
10.4236/cus.2023.111005.