Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development Atupele Muluzi says Malawians will soon enjoy equitable land and housing services once land reforms are finalised.
Speaking in Blantyre on Tuesday after touring the ministry’s regional offices, Muluzi said Malawians should expect better land governance.
“Land issues are very central to economic growth of any society and I believe the reforms that are currently underway will go a long way to improving land governance in this country,” said Muluzi.
His sentiments come at a time government is failing to table in Parliament the new Land Bill.
The Bill was expected to be tabled during the last sitting, but Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs Samuel Tembenu said it was not ready.
The Land Bill, which was passed in Parliament in 2013, was not assented to by former president Joyce Banda after some civil society organisations (CSOs) protested that their concerns were not captured in the Bill.
However, Muluzi said the reforms would specifically provide access to land for vulnerable groups such as women and ensure the land is properly administered.
Said Muluzi: “One of the major reforms currently in progress is the digitisation of the land registry. This will transform land management because it will enhance and ensure greater accountability and transparency, whose results Malawians are eager to see.”
Section 4 (1) of the Bill prevents foreigners from owning land unless they are investors who have partnered with Malawians.
