By Mphatso Nkuonera PRO
LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-The Chairperson of Valuation Tribunal, Gray Thindwa says with the establishment of the tribunal Malawians have a platform to address their property valuation grievances including land, if they are not satisfied with the verdict passed by the Valuation Board.
Speaking after the orientation of the members of the Valuation Tribunal in Salima on Friday, Thindwa emphasised that complaints should be reported to the Valuation Board and addressed to the tribunal if the complainant is grieved by the decision made by the board.
“The tribunal will make sure properties are properly valued to reflect their worthiness, and those who will not set real values will be trapped by the tribunal and will be taken to book,” he emphasised, adding the tribunal is now in full force following the orientation.
The Chairperson challenged the public to make use of the tribunal in order to safeguard their property from unscrupulous valuers.
Commissioner for Estate Management and Valuation in the Ministry of Lands, Mickson Chiundira said the Valuation Tribunal will help in sanitising the sector, bring trust to clients and protect people’s property by providing correct value of any property thereby preventing fraud in the process.
“The tribunal is there to ensure there is fairness in valuation, fairness in treating the clients, fairness among the valuers,” he added.
He noted some cases where financial institutions made losses after selling a property which was not properly valued by a client in their declaration but with the coming in of the tribunal cases of that nature are expected to be history.
Earlier, the Principal Secretary, speaking as the guest of honor assured the valuation organ that the Ministry of Lands is going to fully support it in order to achieve the expected objectives and urged the members to stick to the governing laws.