LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)—Malawi’s Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Chimwemwe Chipungu, has launched a comprehensive Land Ownership Audit aimed at addressing persistent land disputes and cases of double allocation.
The launch took place on Monday at the Ministry’s Land Information Management System (LIMS) offices in Lilongwe.
Speaking at the event, Chipungu said the audit has been prompted by a growing number of public complaints regarding land ownership, particularly disputes arising from encroachment and the double allocation of land parcels.
He disclosed that the exercise will be conducted in phases, beginning with a pilot project in Lilongwe City’s Areas 3 and 10.
“The objective is to ascertain the total number of land parcels in the targeted areas, examine land records to verify ownership and extent of development, reconcile physical land records with those stored in the Land Information Management System, and establish an accurate property database for property tax and ground rent payments,” said Chipungu.
The minister further urged staff assigned to carry out the audit to demonstrate commitment and professionalism, warning that any attempts to sabotage the exercise will not be tolerated.
The Land Ownership Audit is expected to strengthen land administration systems, enhance transparency, and restore public confidence in land management processes.