LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-The Supreme Court sitting in Lilongwe on Thursday, November 5, 2026 dismissed an appeal by former government official hostess Cecilia Tamanda Kadzamira in which she was challenging a High Court ruling that declared the Kaphwiti Banda family as rightful owner of Tichitenji Estate in Mchinji.
Kadzamira claimed ownership of the land arguing that it was handed to her by the former president late Hastings Kamuzu Banda in 1972.
On the other hand the Kaphwiti Bandas’ deed shows they got theirs in 1966.
However, a panel of seven judges of the Supreme Court, that sat today to hear Kadzamira’s appeal, upheld the judgement of the High Court which declared the Kaphwiti Banda family as the right owner of a land in Mchinji that was under dispute.
The appeal was dismissed with costs.
Soon after the ruling, members of the Kaphwiti Banda family were overwhelmed with joy and went into celebration outside the court.
Speaking in an interview lawyer for the Kaphwiti Banda family Wapona Kita hailed the court for dismissing the appeal.
He said the grounds that Kadzamira was advancing to challenge the appeal were not true, arguing the High Court properly considered the law and everything that the judge decided on was in evidence and was properly pleaded by the parties.
“The appeal has been dismissed with costs, so we will sit down and asses how much costs have been incurred to be paid by Mama Kadzamira,” said Kita.
Kadzamira’s lawyer Khumbo Soko said at this point his client has exhausted the legal processes to fight for ownership of the land and it is time to move on. He respected the outcome of the case.
A representative of the Kaphwiti Banda family, Tapiwa Kaphwiti Banda described the outcome of the matter as a dream come true and closure.
She thanked God and the Judiciary for the outcome of the matter, emphasizing that the case has taken a toll on the family in every way and the outcome was a big relief to the family.
“We are thankful to God for this victory and may our dad’s soul rest in peace.
“Our prayer was that this victory should come while our mother is still alive to witness this, her faith should pay off and that is exactly what has happened,” said Tapiwa.
She urged Kadzamira to embrace the outcome of the matter and move on.
In 2025 the High Court ruled in a favour of the Kaphwiti Banda family as rightful owners of the farm under dispute.
The land in question was seized from the Kaphwiti Banda family over 50 years ago after the owner late Elias Kaphwiti Banda went into exile.
Source: Nation online
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