By Patience Longwe and Lesnat Kenan

Lilongwe, March 16, Mana: Member of Parliament for Lilongwe Mpenu, Collins Kajawa, has appealed to the Ministry of Lands to allocate 300 hectares of prime land to Malawians living in the diaspora.

The move aims to encourage investment in Malawi, particularly in rural and suburban areas, and contribute to the country's industrialization effort in line with the MW2063 agenda.

Speaking during a supplementary question in parliament, Kajawa said the allocation of prime land is expected to empower Malawians living abroad to invest in their home country, fostering economic growth and development.

"This initiative also aligns with the Ministry of Land’s mission to create an enabling environment for efficient, effective, and sustainable provision of land and housing management services," he said.

Kajawa added that the continental development blueprint emphasizes the importance of industrialization and economic transformation in Africa. By allocating prime land to diaspora investors, Malawi can leverage the expertise and resources of its citizens living abroad to drive growth and development in the country.

In his response Minister of Lands, Deus Gumba said the government has acquired 200 hectares of prime land in Area 54, earmarked for allocation to Malawians living in the country.

"This initiative is part of the government's efforts to achieve Malawi 2063 agenda, which aims to transform the country into a prosperous and self- reliant nation," he said.

He added that government has set aside nine billion kwachas for compensation to facilitate the allocation of land in Lilongwe, Dunduzu, and Blantyre.

"In Dunduzu, 50 hectares of land are available, requiring three billion kwachas in compensation. Additionally, land in secondary cities like Bangula and Salima will be allocated to investors," he said.

He therefore encouraged Malawians living in the diaspora to take advantage of this opportunity to invest in their home country, assuring that the allocation process will be transparent and efficient.

"By investing in Malawi, diaspora investors can contribute to the country's development and growth while also exploring lucrative business opportunities," he said.