Africa-Press – Malawi. By Wezzie Gausi
The Ministry of Lands says it plans to release a public report detailing its monitoring activities, ongoing reforms and future strategies.
It says the report is aimed at improving land governance across the country.
Lands Minister Deus Gumba says the report will provide an overview of the ministry’s work as one way of strengthening accountability, curbing illegal land acquisition and improving service delivery at the local level.
“We want to assure Malawians that the land sector is being managed in line with the law,” Gumba told The Daily Times. “This report will highlight the progress we have made in inspections, decentralisation of services and public engagement.”
The minister said the document would also help clarify misconceptions about land ownership and help people understand the role of the ministry, Malawi Housing Corporation and councils on land allocation issues.
“This government believes in the rule of law. No one should access land outside proper procedures. We are taking steps to ensure that our systems are transparent and efficient,” Gumba said.
He added that the ministry has recruited 38 land officers and 390 land clerks across the country to bring land services closer to the people.
These officers are stationed in district councils and traditional authorities to handle local applications and disputes.
The ministry says it is also working with chiefs and Local Government authorities to raise awareness on land laws and discourage encroachment.
KAMBWANDIRA—The ACB could have done better than this“Our reforms are not only legal but also practical. We are building capacity at the community level to ensure that no one is left behind,” Gumba said.
However, governance experts say the report must go beyond administrative updates and address long-standing concerns about selective enforcement and political interference in land deals.
Centre for Social Accountability and Transparency Executive Director Willy Kambwandira welcomed the move but urged the ministry to be open in its reporting.
“This is a positive step but Malawians want to see transparency in land allocations,” Kambwandira said. “We expect the report to include data on who is getting land, how decisions are made and what safeguards exist to prevent abuse of power.”
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