Why Planning Does Not Work

A study by Tumsifu Jonas Nnkya of the failures of urban and rural planning in Tanzania. Lack of transparency and accountability in planning practice allows for misuse and abuse of the planning system to serve the interests of the more powerful and influential groups, including those entrusted with the powers of planning. The outcomes of non-inclusive, non-transparent, and insensitive planning include insecurity of land tenure rights and subsequently of investments in land, poverty, informal land subdivision and building, unplanned spatial growth, and endless conflicts in land development. These outcomes are detrimental to residents and erode their trust in government. It takes an organised, informed, confident, and courageous group of residents to reject non-inclusive planning and cause adoption of inclusive, collaborative planning. The book argues that ineffective planning results from defective land policy and legislation, and from planning’s inability to recognise and use opportunities for shaping the built environment. Informed, organised, confident, and courageous civil society is a pillar of democracy.