‘Identify land for police houses’

Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development Kezzie Msukwa has told Nkhata Bay District Council to identify a new site for the construction of police and immigration houses.

The development comes after Nkhata Bay Police Station complained that the proposed site at Mkondezi, about six kilometres from Nkhata Bay Police Station, may not be convenient for junior staff who will find commuting to the office difficult.

“The site at Mkondezi is suitable for senior staff only. So, we’d rather have junior staff stay right within the office grounds,” said officer-in-charge Mike Chona.

The minister said the council should consider the concerns because his ministry did not want to compromise on security.

“I, therefore, urge the district commissioner [DC] to quickly identify a place close by because we want to construct the houses soon,” said Msukwa.

Nkhata Bay DC Rodney Simwaka and Senior Chief Mkumbira were given one week to identify the new site.

However, Simwaka told the minister that land disputes were rampant because a lot of land belongs to plantations and reserves.

The minister was accompanied by his deputy Abida Mia and Principal Secretary Wilson Moleni.

Nkhata Bay has been allocated 10 houses in the current phase.

The minister later presided over the official opening of a media orientation workshop on new land laws.

Government is piloting the new land laws in some districts in Malawi before fully rolling out.