Minister engages media on land-related laws

Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development Atupele Muluzi has said discussions his ministry held with the media on land-related laws are key to enlightening the public on the importance of the new amendments in the laws.

The minister said this in Lilongwe yesterday when he engaged the media in a half-day workshop on the laws sponsored by Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and the ministry.

“We have held discussions with different stakeholders on the land-related laws, but this engagement is key since whatever we are going to discuss here will trickle down through various media outlets present here,” said Muluzi.

Muluzi said land laws have been in existence, but only needed amendments to close gaps which facilitated inequalities and loss of land due to lack of proper documentation and rights by the land holders.

He observed that some components in the said laws have been misinterpreted by some sectors, thereby creating misunderstandings on the new amendments.

Media Institute of Southern Africa (Misa)-Malawi vice-chairperson Yvonne Sundu said the meeting was crucial despite that some of the laws have already been passed and assented to.

“Out of 10 land-related laws, only four have gone through and there are six more which are remaining. So, if the media understands the remaining Land Bills, dissemination of information will be of benefit,” she said. n