By Petro Mkandawire

Blantyre, December 10, Mana: Group Village Heads (GVHs) in Blantyre have expressed gratitude with the establishment of Customary Land Committees (CLCs), noting that it is a tool to enhance transparency and accountability during the registration process of land parcels.

CLC is a committee consisting of six members established at a village level to oversee the land registration process, alleviate and regulate customary land-related disputes, ensure land security, and develop development plans, among others.

Speaking during sensitization on CLC law and establishment of CLCs at Majora, Gwadani and Imbwa in Senior Chief Kunthembwe’s area on Tuesday, GVH Imbwa said each week he receives four land-related cases; as such, CLCs will help to reduce land disputes, as people will know their land boundaries.

“When it comes to land-related issues people think that traditional leaders are prone to corruption, as such the introduction of CLCs in our communities will promote access to land-related justice which will improve all customary land-related disputes and it will lead to satisfaction during the registration process,” said Imbwa.

On his part, GVH Majora concurred with Imbwa, saying it is good that surviving family members will not be able to sell their parents’ plots, adding that the development has come at the right time when he receives about 12 land-related cases per month.

“I am happy that people will be able to elect their representatives who will assist them in the land registration process, a registered land is insured against illegal encroachment, as such I will urge my fellow community members to take the initiative seriously,” said Majora.

Over 50,000 land parcels have been registered in Chingale, Zomba since it started in 2021 and the registration is expected to register more land parcels by the end of the Malawi Watershed Service Improvement Project (MWASIP).

Deputy Commissioner for Lands, Anthony Tchokola Nzima said during the registration process the committee will act as a bridge between the Department of Lands and the land owners to avoid encroachment and provide an opportunity for people to legally own their land without conflict.

“I am encouraging all community members to register their land for security reasons since land is a key asset for sustainable livelihoods and economic development across the country. If people sell their ancestral land it means that they are putting the young generation at risk,” said Nzima.

According to Nzima, through CLCs over 45,000 land parcels for Nkaradzi catchment area at Kunthembwe are expected to be registered, adding that registration of customary land is free.

The initiative is being undertaken in Mangochi, Ntcheu, Machinga, Balaka, Zomba, Neno and Blantyre through the Ministry of Lands with support from MWASIP.