The Lilongwe City Council in conjunction with Ministry of Lands and Malawi Housing Corporation (MHC) as the custodian of the natural resources has intensified demolition of houses campaign against illegal settlements.
The recent destruction happened on August 28, 2015 at Area 25C, adjacent to St Francis Catholic Parish as misguided land dealers sold the land to the public in October 2013 claiming that the city council mandated them to give out the land.
The Maravi Post’s visit at the site on Wednesday, September 2, 2015 found builders to one of demolished houses sorting out bricks ready for furring to a different destination.
One of the guards of a demolished Maize Mill which has electricity and water connections, showed The Maravi Post legal documents biding his landlord’s permanent settlement at the area saying he was surprised when he witnessed destruction of the structure.
“While in a deep sleep, we were awakened by men in uniform, the police, that the maize mill guarding was illegally planted and they demanded our leave from the building. Although, we liaised with them by showing legal documents supporting the building’s existence, they went ahead destructing the structure. But no casualties were recorded as our family cooperated with them”, explains a guard who witnessed the demolition.
The Maravi Post later on Thursday, September 3, 2015 caught up with Tamara Chafunya, Lilongwe City Council (LCC)’s Public Relations Officer who confirmed the destruction exercise, saying the campaign was a routine of splashing out illegal settlements.
Chafunya hinted that the land being encroached at Area 25C was designated for commercial not residential purposes saying such conduct was tantamount to prosecution.
“The council will continue carrying its duties of safeguarding resources meant for specific purpose. It does necessarily mean that if the land isn’t developed is for grabs. Any land in the city has its own purpose hence the general public must seek indulgence with us when wanting to develop land to avoid loose of properties and money upon the execution of this exercise.
“Let’s warn illegal land dealers that the law won’t spare them as what are doing was against the procedures of acquiring land. Therefore, what has remained is intensifying public awareness on right ways of obtaining the land for any development. This might work perfectly with the coming in of the councilors who are close to the communities. They will make an impact to that effect in a bid lessening land encroachment”, explains Chafunya.
Recently, Lilongwe City Council has been awash with illegal land dealers who are soliciting huge sum of money from innocent residents in giving out land and posing as council’s agents.
