By Mphatso Nkuonera, PRO Ministry of Lands

SALIMA-(MaraviPost)-Minister of Lands Deus Gumba has announced significant progress toward the completion of devolution in the land sector.

Speaking during a meeting focused on the progress of Land Sector Devolution and Land Registration with District Commissioners (DCs) and Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) of Local Councils in Salima on Thursday, Gumba reported that the Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs approved his ministry’s request to devolve financial resources to local councils.

“This approval marks a landmark achievement in the fiscal devolution of the land sector. This is more than a financial shift; it is a strategic redistribution of power, responsibility, and resources to the grassroots level,” he stated.

“This will empower local authorities with financial autonomy to manage land functions, thereby enhancing their capacity to deliver land-related services effectively and efficiently,” he added.

The minister urged councils to prudently utilize the allocated resources for their intended purposes.

He emphasized that the meeting served as a crucial platform for attendees to reflect and collectively strategize, ensuring that Malawians fully benefit from effective land administration.

“Let us continue brainstorming and sharing innovative ideas that will generate additional resources for the councils through revenue and support from our development partners, complementing Government efforts in improving the land sector,” he said.

Richard Hara, Secretary for Local Government, Unity, and Culture, noted that the devolution of fiscal resources to local councils, following the transfer of staff and functions by the Ministry of Lands, will enable staff to meet their daily operational requirements.

“The resources have been allocated under specific votes for each district, meaning access to them is now quicker and more straightforward than before,” he explained.

In her remarks, District Commissioner for Zomba, Reingard Chavula, underscored the importance of the meeting, emphasizing that the devolution of land services to councils has empowered them to effectively address land issues at the district level.