Chairperson of women caucus in Parliament, Dr. Jessie Kabwira has urged her fellow law makers to critically analyze the current land bill which is under review to benefit ordinary Malawians, women and children unlike foreign investors.
Kabwira made the appeal on Tuesday this week during the meeting in which Land Net Malawi in conjunction with Centre for Environmental Policy and Advocacy (CEPA) with funding from Oxfam and Tilitonse was updating parliamentary committees on natural resources and climate change, women caucus, legal affairs agriculture and Pan African Parliament, on the land bill.
Parliamentarian Kabwira said any economic activity Malawi would venture into on land, women and children shouldn’t be suffering in the name of development but instead they must be the first beneficiaries towards such a course not politicians, foreign investors.
“The current situation on the ground isn’t pleasing at all as most women and children especially in rural areas have lost land to our fellow politicians, foreign investor. This has made the homeless and destitute in their own country due to lack of proper laws which could protect them from such injustices”, worries Kabwira.
She therefore appeal to her fellow law makers to do the needful role in making sure that the current land bill would benefit women and children with economic successes which come on land investments.
“I will make sure that any law which discriminate women and children should have tough time when brought to parliament hence an appeal to my fellow law makers to critically look into issues which affects the marginalized, women and children”, urges Kabwira.
In his remarks, Emmanuel Mlaka, Land Net Malawi National Coordinator said he was optimistic that the next seating of parliament in June, this year, the bill would be tabled as the way to deal with all injustices of such lack of the law have had Malawians.
“Currently, the bill is under review by Law Commission as all submissions have been done. Therefore, we have been assured that come June this year the bill will be tabled in parliament hence an appeal to all law makers to support the passing of the bill which has been on draft form for almost 13 years”, said Mlaka.
