LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-Ministry of Lands officials are in Dowa District to appreciate adjudication and demarcation of land parcels for communities in the district under the Sustainable Land Management for Landscapes (SAMALA) Project which is being implemented by Total Land Care with support from Irish Aid and the Government of Flanders.
The Surveyor General, Masida Mbano said four Group Village areas in Dowa and Ntchisi are benefiting from the projects and over 6,300 land parcels have already been adjudicated and demarcated in both Districts since the exercise started on 27th June, 2025.
“We are now rolling out to 10 more GVHs in Ntchisi and Dowa, as we are targeting to register 17,000 land parcels.”
“Currently we are working in TAs Msakambewa and Chiwere where GVHs Zamba and Kaluma have had 2893 and 2698 land parcels adjudicated and demarcated respectively,” he said.
Mbano said the ministry is on a ground-truthing exercise to appreciate the work being done, note the challenges and provide guidance to improve implementation.
So far, according to the Surveyor General, low turnout due to disinformation that the Government wants to take away the land from citizens was noted.
Mbano added that the adjudication and demarcation exercise is being carried out as part of implementing the land reform programme.
Vekelani Mapepa, a SAMALA Project beneficiary from TA Chiwere thanked Government for introducing customary land registration saying it has given the locals unquestionable and reliable ownership.
“No one can just wake up and claim ownership of my parcel of land because I have valid papers issued by the Ministry of Lands and recognised by the government system,” he said.
GVH Kaluma said the project has halted all customary land disputes under his jurisdiction, adding that the process has allowed other family members to have a share of the ancestry land which earlier proved difficult before this project.
