Disgruntled farmers allegedly facing eviction from Nantipwiri residential area in Thyolo District have asked to President Peter Mutharika to intervene to allow them continue occupying the land.
The land in question belongs to the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development and the ministry designated it for development, but plot allocation has been delayed due to disputes between government and alleged encroachers.
In August 2025, the ministry said the land is public and allocations will follow the Land Act provisions.
land. | Ted Likombola
However, before the ministry embarks on the allocation exercise, farmers have written the President to stop the exercise, saying they do not have anywhere to settle or cultivate.
On Tuesday, the community members convened at the site led by Hussein Dickson Chiwalo, who claimed that former president Joyce Banda directed on November 7 2013 that communities surrounding the Nantipwiri area, located between Chigumula in Blantyre and Bvumbwe in Thyolo, should be allowed to cultivate the land because of shortage of arable land in Thyolo District.
“We ask President Mutharika to listen to our concerns and provide guidance on this matter because many families depend on this land for food production and income,” he said.
Village head Kamanga of Traditional Authority Magi in Thyolo described the situation as disappointing, saying Thyolo District Council is taking away land that farmers have depended on for cultivation without providing an alternative.
However, Thyolo District Council is pursuing plans to exchange part of the Nantipwiri land with land belonging to Conforzi Tea Estate located near Thyolo Market as well as another piece of land situated between Thyolo District Hospital and the district stadium.
In an interview, presidential press secretary Cathy Maulidi said President Mutharika is yet to receive the letter from the farmers.
At least 836 farmers from five T/As in the district have been cultivating the Nantipwiri land since 2013.
