Don’t sell land to foreigners—M’mbelwa

Paramount Chief M’mbelwa of Mzimba has warned his subjects against selling land to foreigners, saying they will end up being slaves in their own country.

The chief issued the warning on Saturday when he participated in a tree planting exercise in the district organised by Mzikubola Trust.

M’mbelwa said he was worried with the rate at which people are selling land in the district, saying the practice poses danger to future generations.

He said: “If you sell your land, you will be slaves. I urge you to protect the land. Foreigners are coming with different tricks to take away our land, but we need to safeguard it.

“Some marry women in Mzimba, stay there and end up securing land.”

On his part, Mzikubola Trust chairperson Misheck Chisi said they will help improve agriculture in the district and help farmers form cooperatives.

“Through cooperatives, farmers will have more bargaining power and will benefit from their produce,” he said.

Chisi also said the trust will promote the planting of trees to conserve the environment.

“People can use such forests for bee-keeping and other activities that will benefit them financially,” he said.

Press Trust executive secretary Gibson Ngalamila said the district can develop the vast land and forests into parks and game reserves.