Tag Archives: LandNet

Human Rights, Malawi, Regional, Top News

Konrad hosts Malawi’s international conference on improved food security and land use rights for women

Lloyd M’bwana

LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-The German’ Konrad Adenauer Stiftung Foundation ( KAS) in collaboration with its Malawi cooperating partners will on Monday, February 26 to 27, host an international conference in the capital Lilongwe.

Along side with its partners including Farmers Union of Malawi (FUM), Landnet and Women’s Legal Resources Centre (WOLREC), Konrad conference is within the context of the special initiative “One world-No Hunger”.

The forum will focus on improved food security through strengthening land ownership and secure land use right for women in Malawi, Zimbabwe and Namibia.

The conference therefore aims at collecting knowledge and exchanging good practices from the three countries.

Addressing the news conference on Saturday ahead of the event, Stefanie Zraun, Namibia’s Konrad Program Manager-Adenauer-Stiftung says experts expect to explore how best to enhance synergies among land governance support agencies including CSOs, development partners and government agencies.

Zraun painted outstanding picture how chiefs in Nambia understand legal framework of their subjects in accessing land.

Echoing on the same, Landnet Malawi National Coordinator Emmanuel Mlaka expects participants to dwell much on effective policies and legal framework that support fully women and children access to land.

With key note address, “unlocking land ownership and land tenure rights for women across Africa’ patrilineal and matrilineal society; obstacles and progress, the conference attracts over 50 participants from traditional leaders, media, land governance and human rights experts and among others.

Malawi’s minister of lands, housing and urban development Anna Kachikho will grace the conference at Bingu International Convention Centre (BICC).

Since 2016, Konrad has been implementing activities with its partners to improve the secure and just access to land resources and land-use rights for women in Sub-Saharan Africa through improved legal and policy frameworks.

District News, Law and order

New Customary Land Act to reduce land disputes

Malawi News Agency (MANA)

Thyolo District Council Chairperson Amosi Bakiri says raising awareness on the new Customary Land Act will help to reduce land disputes that were high in the District.

The Chair told Malawi News Agency in an interview on Tuesday after a one day workshop organized by Landnet.

He said most of the disputes including encroaching of estates were a result of ignorance by communities. Hence massive civic education is needed in the district.

“The new customary land act which attracted a lot negative comments from people , mandates individuals to register their land for free and it also provides opportunities to an individual to own land regardless of gender, said Bakiri.

He therefore said it was important to enlighten people on the new law before its implementation so that they understand it.

He added; “Here in Thyolo I believe our chief’s tribunals will no longer get flooded with land disputes as people will be in a better position to understand what the law says.

“I would therefore like to urge Landnet to engage all community leaders in the district so that in the long run every community member will understand what then new law stipulates.”

Traditional Authority Mchiramwela said the Customary Land Act has come in a bit late as most of the land in the district was occupied by estates.

However he pointed out that the new law will assist people to register their land for free without difficulties.

“I will encourage my subjects to go and register their land once the law becomes in full operational so that they should not fear of losing their land once something happens,” he said.

Landnet Land Governance Project Officer McDonald Galimoto said a lot of Malawians were not aware on the issues regarding the new law.

He then said Landnet decided to engage civil servants from various departments, traditional leaders and other local leaders so that they take the massage on what the law stipulates to the local masses.

Malawi

Newly enacted Land Law not suitable for Ngoni patrilineal culture –Inkosi Mpherembe

Maravi Post correspondent
Emmanuel Mlaka: Landnet Director

Barely a week before government in conjunction with LandNet Malawi starts applying the newly enacted land law; Inkosi Mpherembe of Mzimba District says the law is not suitable for communities that practice patrilineal culture.

Continue reading Newly enacted Land Law not suitable for Ngoni patrilineal culture –Inkosi Mpherembe →