By Petro Mkandawire

Blantyre, May 19, Mana: Ministry of Lands has deployed 319 land clerks and 34 land registrars in districts and Traditional Authorities (T/A) across the country to enhance customary land registration.

Public Relations Officer for Ministry of Lands, Mphatso Mkuonera, told Malawi News Agency on Monday that 34 district land registrars will be working in all councils and municipalities, while 319 clerks will be based at T/A level.

"The land registrars will also be working as secretary to the district land tribunal in each district while the 319 land clerks will also be working as secretaries to the customary land committees and customary land tribunals," said Mkuonera.

He added that the officers, in collaboration with selected village committee, will be responsible for resolving land related disputes, and that where one is not satisfied with the outcome, they can appeal to customary land tribunal based at T/A level.

“After this level there is a district land tribunal and the central land board as the higher authority for appeal,” he added.

The Customary Land Act (2016) and attendant regulations (2018) create land committees whose members are expected to be nominated by the communities themselves.

The committee ensures that all other categories of land and their respective boundaries within the jurisdiction of the group village head of the area are clear and known. This arrangement replaced the old system where traditional leaders were the ultimate authority over customary land.

Traditional Authority Kunthembwe of Blantyre has, since, expressed gratitude for the deployment of the officials, saying they will be key in reducing land disputes.

He said the development has come at a right time as he receives more than 10 land-related cases every month.

"When it comes to land-related disagreements people think that we, traditional leaders, are corrupt.  The coming in of government officials in our communities will promote access to land related justice," said Kunthembwe.