BY SAMUEL KALIMIRA:
Former vice-president Khumbo Kachali has called for a quick review of the country’s land laws, despite their being passed in Parliament and assented to by President Peter Mutharika as recently as September 2016.
The law has Land Bill, Physical Planning Bill, Land Survey Bill and Customary Land Bill.
In so doing, Kachali has joined the Church of Central Africa Presbyterian (CCAP) Livingstonia Synod leadership, which faulted the laws, immediately after their enactment, for reducing the powers of traditional leaders.
Speaking during the rally he conducted at Luwerezi in Mzimba District, Kachali said it is sad that, even though government officials understand that people are not comfortable with the laws, the responsible ministry is pretending that people have welcomed them.
“I have been meeting locals who usually speak on different issues concerning our nation. The common complaint, especially among traditional leaders, is about the gazzeted land law. They are saying some elements are supposed to be removed so that people can have power on issues pertaining to their land.
“The fear is that, one day, they will see foreigners working, and investing, on their land after all the transactions have been done at central [government] level. This is bad and we recommend that the law should be revisited,” Kachali said.
Senior Chief Mabilabo, who attended the meeting, was seen clapping hands in support of the idea.
But government spokesperson, Nicholas Dausi, said laws are not made to punish the people.
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