By Chisomo Kambandanga

Nkhata Bay, April 10, Mana: Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Lands, Davie Chilonga, has decsribed the outcome of an engagement meeting with Kasasire community members in Traditional Authority (TA) M’bwana in Nkhata Bay on land wrangles with Malawi Defence Force (MDF) over shooting range boundary as impressive.

He said people have been well informed about the boundary of the area in accordance with the laws.

Speaking Wednesday at Kasasire, Chilonga said the meeting was arranged to raise awareness on the boundary of MDF shooting range in Nkhata Bay following eviction of some community members who allegedly encroached the area.

"The main agenda of the meeting was to sensitize people about the boundary which was established in 1963 which must be respected.

"After lengthy discussions, the communities have understood and asked for land where they can be relocated to. We will work with all relevant stakeholders, including the District Commissioner and traditional leaders, and see how we go about it,” he said.

According to Chilonga, relocation of the people will require screening to identify those affected by the eviction court order; calculate the costs, which is doable when all concerned offices have agreed that it is necessary.

He admitted to having received about seven lease documents on the public land, saying the owners will be summoned to map the way forward as the area belongs to MDF.

"We have already mobilized resources for the retracement survey of the 17,712 hectares of land through the surveyor general office and we will do it at the end of this rainy season as requested by the TA so that nobody shall encroach this protected area again,” he said.

MDF Commander, Valentino Phiri, said they are committed to protecting communities living around the firing range from harm.

"MDF uses weapons and most of the weapons we are using now are quite modern and long range. If people trespass in this field they can be caught in the cross fire. So, we want to prevent that from happening.

"We also want to protect the communities from accidents following the collection of unexploded materials. We have witnessed such unfortunate deaths, and we don't want that to happen at Kasasire," he said.

He said MDF soldiers are citizens of this country and will always strive to do their job professionally.

TA M'bwana commended government for timely intervention on the matter.

"As a chief for this area, I am satisfied with the discussions as government has shown commitment to help people evicted from the area they encroached on," he said.

He, therefore, asked government and all well-wishers to continue helping people with food and non-food items as they wait for finalization of the relocation process as requested.

Organized by the Ministry of Lands, the meeting brought together officials from the Ministry of Homeland Security, Office of the President and Cabinet, Ministry of Local Government Unity and Culture, MDF, traditional leaders, and community members from Kasasire.