Tag Archives: Malawi’s Lands Ministry

Development

PS Davie Chilonga leaves Malawi’s Lands Ministry with transformative marks

MaraviPost

LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-The Ministry of Lands has changed for the better in recent years, thanks to the leadership of outgoing Principal Secretary, Davie Chilonga.

During his time in office, he brought order, discipline, and honesty to the ministry.

His leadership restored trust in a department that had once struggled with confusion and corruption.

From the beginning of his tenure, Chilonga proved himself to be a hardworking and honest public servant. He ensured that promotions were based on merit—on performance and ability rather than political connections.

Under his leadership, everyone was given a fair chance to grow, no matter their political background.

He believed that public service should reward hard work and dedication to the nation.

Chilonga also took strong action against land grabbing and corruption.

He stopped illegal land sales, cancelled dubious land allocations, and stood firm against powerful individuals who tried to abuse the system.

His decisions were not always popular with those who benefitted from wrongdoing, but he never compromised on integrity.

Because of his tough stand on corruption, some individuals who lost their illegal privileges began to fight back, spreading false stories to tarnish his image.

Many of these people were involved in selling land using fake documents or making shady deals with foreigners. Their attacks are a clear attempt to hide their own wrongdoings.

Throughout his long service in government, Chilonga has worked under different administrations and has always maintained a reputation for discipline, transparency, and fairness.

He is respected by many for making the Ministry of Lands more organized and accountable.

Any allegations made against him should be viewed with caution.

If the Anti-Corruption Bureau or any other independent body investigates honestly, it will find that Mr. Chilonga was not part of the problem—he was part of the solution. He took bold steps to clean up a ministry that had long been associated with corruption.

As he leaves office, Malawians should remember Mr. Chilonga as a civil servant who led with integrity and courage.

He has shown that one can serve the country honestly without engaging in corruption or politics. His leadership is a model for others in the public service to follow.

In short, Mr. Davie Chilonga leaves behind a strong legacy of honesty, professionalism, and accountability. He restored sanity and respect to the Ministry of Lands and deserves to be remembered as one of the few public servants who truly worked for the good of Malawi.

Development

“Experience, qualification, integrity determined promotions”-Lands Ministry’s Director Zimba

MaraviPost

LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-The Ministry of Lands has said all promotions followed due process and meritorious shading off allegations of favouritism and nepotism.

The clarification settles down the allegations that have been levelled against the outgoing Principal Secretary Devie Chilonga and Commissioner for Valuation and Estate Management Mickson Chiundira.

According to Ministry of Lands Director of Human Resources Management, Francisco Zimba, the ministry had a lot of unfilled vacancies for senior positions, a development that stifled delivery.

“The promotions were meritorious, we used integrity, experience and qualifications to fill in the existing gaps,” he said.

He said, for example, “Zione Malanda is qualified and served the ministry for over 30 years and now promoted to Deputy Director.”

Others who are agitating have served less than 13 years according to file records and often with reported misconducts on file while other are being investigated by other competent agencies.

Zimba added that there were no any inches of political, tribal and regionalistic inclinations when filling the vacancies.

“Every qualified Malawian regardless of region or tribe, were accorded equal opportunity, promotions were offered to those qualified individuals who passed the interviews and nothing else.

He said, “It’s necessary to mention that everyone was given equal chances, for example, file records are showing that among many who were considered Blessings Mpanga and Mr Jambo Chiziwitsano from Chiradzulu and Nsanje were promoted as Deputy Directors of Quality Assurance- heading Eastern and Souther region respectively, Anthony Nzima, from the north, is the fastest promoted from P8 to become Deputy Commissioner for Lands(Land registration) Counsel Nzati Mbeko is from Blantyre was appointed Deputy Commissioner (Legal Services),  Masida Mbano from the north was promoted to Surveyor General, and was promoted, Counsel Yohane Dzowa is from Balaka, he got promoted to Deputy Director(Legal Services), Mirriam Lungu and Cynthia Chisanu from Rumphi and Ntcheu were promoted to Deputy Commissioners for Valuation and Property Databank respectively. Mr Jailosi Lungu from Mzimba and Mr Philimon Mkwezalamba from Lilongwe were promoted to Deputy Commissioners for Physical Planning (Enforcement/Planning)

Not only that but also, Mr Msukwa from Chitipa, Mrs Sarah Mzunda from Chitipa, Mr Kabambe from Thyolo, Mr Chikweni from Machinga, Mr Manzi from Mzimba and many others were promoted to the post of Chief Lands Officer, Chief Valuation Officer, Chief Estae Management Officer etc. Then many others in lower cadres were also accorded opportunity to undergo interviews at Civil Service Commission which you can go and verify. You will appreciate that it was from all the districts. Our files are open for inspection at any time.

The Ministry of Lands has been the fastest in filling gaps of vacant posts that mostly made operations hard in the past. 

An inside source from the ministry hinted that more people were moved up to fill various positions and this became a direct motivation and efficiency drastically improved. 

However, it was reported that management had the right to avoid those with questionable work ethics which often are those making the noise.

Law and order

No more disorder in land management as Valuation Tribunal commences operations

Maravi Post Author

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.

Law and order, Malawi

Customary Land Registration progress impresses ministry, chiefs demand more civic education

MaraviPost

LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-The Ministry of Lands has expressed satisfaction over customary land registration process underway across the country.

The Ministry has so far registered over 117,000 customary land and adjudicated and demarcated 200,000 customary land.

The Ministry’s spokesperson Mphatso Nkuonera told The Maravi Post that over 50,000 leases on public land have been registered so far in Lilongwe city, Blantyre city Mzuzu city, Kasungu Municipality and Karonga township.

In a positive move, some Paramount Chiefs have hailed the ministry for the establishment of customary land tribunals the first of its kind.

However, in random interviews, sores of chiefs in the country have said the establishment of land tribunals will significantly help in reducing land conflicts, and speedily resolving such matters as the Customary Land Clerks and district Land Registrars have legal knowledge needed in handling land issues.

Nkuonera said the ministry is happy with the support it has received from traditional authorities by closely working with the ministry on the land reforms drive.

Paramount Chiefs Kaduya, Kawinga and Chikulamayembe have also echoed their appreciation in separate interviews with this reporter.

Paramount Chief Kawinga, praised the ministry for engineering the land reforms and customary land registrations saying this will significantly reduce land related conflicts in their areas.

“I commend the ministry for its leading role in helping chiefs to handle land matters with ease and speed through the land clerks. As chiefs, we’re happy because the land clerks and land registrars have already helped immensely in reducing land conflicts.

“I plead with the ministry to do more civic education and awareness campaigns especially on customary land registrations and ownership, locals lack detailed facts about it,” Chief Kawinga said.

“Using their expertise, the land clerks will resolve land issues with objectivity,” said Paramount Chief Chikulamayembe.

“The establishment of land tribunals follows the recruitment of 319 land clerks and 34 Land registrars which the ministry drilled on handling of land matters prior to their deployment.

Development

Ministry advances land sector devolution

Maravi Post Author

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.

Malawi, Politics

Abida Mia gears up to wipe out corruption in Malawi’s Lands Ministry

Angella Semu
Abidah Mia sworn in as Deputy Minister of Lands

BLANTYRE-(MaraviPost)-New appointed deputy Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development Abida Sidik Mia has vowed to fight against corruption and all bureaucratic bottlenecks that hamper effective delivery of services to the public.

Abidah Mia, the lawmaker for Chikwawa Nkombezi constituency made the remarks in a statement available to The Maravi Post on Saturday, July 11, 2020.

Mia says is ready to work hand in hand with minister of land Honorable Kezzie Msukwa and deliver the work in the 5-month probation that the president has given her and her fellow newly sworn in ministers.

She has also vowed to serve with honesty, passion, dedication and hard work to make significant contribution in building a new Malawi, leave good legacy and inspire the girl child in the society.

She has consequently beseeched Malawians to support her in any way possible while discharging her duties in freeing Malawians from living as foreigners in their own country.

Abidah Mia

Below is Abidah’s full statement:

THANKSGIVING, REQUEST & COMMITMENT

Dear Friends,
I give praise and honour to the Almighty God for this opportunity to serve my beloved country as Deputy Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development.

God who weighs the heart knows that it is intrinsic in me honest passion, dedication and hard work to serve humanity and my country.

I will be going to the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development on Monday, to among other things, clear the rubble of corruption in land transactions, which if not cleared, will leave us Malawians as foreigners in our own country.

Fellow citizens; yours truly is a fighter and together with my boss, Honorable Kezzie Msukwa, it will be gloves off—a bare-knuckle fight against corruption and all bureaucratic bottlenecks that hamper effective delivery of services to the public. This is not mere rhetoric but a promise because as you heard from the President yesterday; we are on 5-month probation—to deliver or be delivered home. Think about it. The bar has been raised very high and it will be no child’s play to have one’s lifeline in cabinet extended as the president wants nothing short of stellar performance.

I therefore promise to do my very best not for the fear of being delivered home in 5 months’ time but so I can;
a) Make a significant contribution in building a new Malawi.
b) Leave a good legacy when all is said and done and
c) Inspire the girl child that it is possible to do a commendable job of perfecting that which is imperfect.

To this end, it is my prayer to the almighty God to give me a spirit to fight gallantly and win big for our nation.

In the same vein, I entreat you, my fellow citizens, to support me as I discharge my duties. Your support will spur me to succeed and my success at the ministry will be our country’s success.

It’s game on!

May God bless you.
Abida Sidik Mia, MP
Deputy Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development