On the importance of judicial independence.

This book investigates the effects of the 1999 Tanzanian land legislation on customary land tenure, particularly that of pastoralists. It is an original, empirical and theoretical critical study of the laws and their implementation in securing land tenure of customary landholders in the face of the changing social-political structures, and as such constitutes a contribution to the current debate about the future of customary landholders in the reformed Tanzanian economy. Among issues that receive particular attention in this study are: the development of pastoral land tenure, the main features of the new land laws, introduced land schemes for pastoralists, land dispute mechanisms, the certification of village lands, investments on village land, the inclusion of unused or unoccupied village lands into the category of general land, women's land rights and villager participation in the administration and management of village lands.

Land Law Reform in East Africa reviews development and changes in the statutory land laws of 7 countries in Eastern Africa over the period 1961 – 2011. The book is divided into two parts. Part 1 sets up the conceptual framework for consideration of the reforms, and pursues a contrast between transformational and traditional developments; where the former aim at change designed to ensure social justice in land laws, and the latter aim to continue the overall thrust of colonial approaches to land laws and land administration. Part 2 provides an in-depth and critical survey of the land law reforms introduced into each country during the era of land law reform which commenced around 1990. The overall effect of the reforms has, Patrick McAuslan argues, been traditional: it was colonial policy to move towards land markets, individualisation of land tenure and the demise of customary tenure, all of which characterise the post 1990 reforms. The culmination of over 50 years of working in this area, Land Law Reform in East Africa will be invaluable reading for scholars of land law, and of law and development more generally.