New Measures Announced to Regulate Land Buying and Selling in Malawi
New Measures Announced to Regulate Land Buying and Selling in Malawi
The Deputy Minister of Lands in Malawi, Deus Gumba, has raised concerns about the illegal and chaotic nature of land buying and selling in the country.
Malawi: The Deputy Minister of Lands in Malawi, Deus Gumba, has raised concerns about the illegal and chaotic nature of land buying and selling in the country, write Eunice Disi & Monica Tambala, MANA.
At a press conference on amended land laws in Lilongwe on Friday, Gumba said, "As government, we are concerned about the disorderly buying and selling of land in the country, and so we want clear regulation of both legal and illegal estate agents so that their roles and responsibilities are clearly documented. A lot of people are deceived with news on radio and televisions about the selling of land in small bits per acre which is illegal."
Gumba also warned against the selling of unoccupied private land in Lilongwe West, which was registered in the names of family representatives to become private land for farming purposes.
He condemned the encroachment of public and private land, such as road reserves, river reserves, game reserves, and forest reserves, stating that it is illegal and can result in fines of K500,000 and imprisonment for up to three years upon conviction.
Gumba emphasized the role of the government in protecting public land and said that the ministry will issue eviction orders for all encroachments on public land.
In light of this, he encouraged all existing and potential investors to comply with the necessary laws in order to fully participate in the country's development.
Gumba also announced plans to build the capacity of the Malawi Investment and Trade Centre (MITC) to better assist potential investors in accessing land for investment.