Cepa to orient Mzimba communities on land laws

The Centre for Environmental Policy and Advocacy (Cepa) says it will embark on a 10-month project in Mzimba District aimed at making local people knowledgeable of the amended land laws.

Speaking on Friday after meeting executive members of M’mbelwa District Council, Cepa Executive Director Herbert Mwalukomo said through the project people in the district will be briefed on the contents of 2016 land related laws that were amended in 2022.

Mwalukomo said their project will dwell on Land Amendment Act, Customary Land Act, Land Acquisition and Compensation Act, Physical Planning Amendment Act. “Communities will be educated about these land laws and their rights pertaining to land,” Mwalukomo said.

Mwalukomo hinted that the project will also focus on sustainable use and management of land resources for improved agriculture productivity.

The project was supposed to be done in 2021 but it delayed as chiefs from Mzimba at that time disagreed with central government’s plan of appointing District Commissioners as heads of land tribunals for the local councils.

Communications specialist at the Land Reform Implementation Unit in the Ministry of Lands Charles Vintulla told the meeting that the amended land laws state that paramount chiefs will be chairing district land tribunals.

Senior Chief Mabulabo expressed delight that now Inkosi ya Makhosi M’mbelwa will chair district land tribunal.

He said chiefs are the ones who are knowledgeable of land boundaries as owners of customary land.

Apart from Mzimba, the project is also taking place in Kasungu with support from the Flanders government.