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Landnet takes land law to Mzimba

 

Landnet has said land laws enacted in 2016 will safeguard the rights of women who are often denied access to land.

Landnet national coordinator Emmanuel Mlaka said this during a meeting with Mzimba District Executive Committee and councillors last week.

The network of non-governmental organisations convened the meeting to deepen understanding of the provisions of the Land Act.

Mlaka: The law upholds women rights and dignity

Some factions in Mzimba recently asked M’mbelwa District Council to kick out Landnet, saying it propagates land laws and rights which contravene their culture in which women have no say on land.

But Mlaka said the new land laws recognise and safeguard equal access to land by all, including widows, divorcees, unmarried women and orphans who are often sidelined by the oppressive customary land governance system.

He described land as a treasured resource which alleviates poverty in all households, including those headed by women and children.

“Apart from restoring the dignity and rights of women, the law  empowers disadvantaged group to use their share of land to produce food and  generate other resources to improve household income and become self reliant,” he said.

Mzimba Civil Society Organisation Network chairperson Texon Amadu said land law is a reliable weapon to end exclusion of women, especially in land allocation which mainly favours men.

But some councilors and Mzimba Heritage Association (Mziha) asked champions of the law to tread carefully to avoid conflicts with cultural norms that guide land ownership. n

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