Kadzamira land wrangle hearing this Thursday
The High Court of Malawi has adjourned to tomorrow a case in which former official government hostess Mama Cecilia Tamanda Kadzamira is facing a challenge on the ownership of Tichitenji Estate in Mchinji.
The case came up for hearing in Lilongwe yesterday, but it was adjourned to allow the presence of the Attorney General Thabo Chakaka Nyirenda.

In the case, the family of Elias Kaphwiti Banda is arguing that the Ministry of Lands erred to grant Kadzamira, who was founding president Hastings Kamuzu Banda’s official hostess, lease ownership of the said farm when there was another lease over the same land given to the Kaphwiti Bandas.
Representing the defence, lawyer Khumbo Soko said he was going to ensure that the AG is served with documentation to allow him to come to court on Thursday.
He said: “I don’t think that the AG was aware that he needed to be here as such we can’t blame him for his absence.
“I am going to ensure that I serve him so that he is available tomorrow.”
Lawyer representing the applicants, Wapona Kita, was also in agreement with the fact that the AG needed to be present in court.
Presiding judge Simeon Mdeza said lawyers from both parties have the responsibility to explain to their clients exactly what had led to the adjournment.
Said the judge: “May you also take a look at your calendars so that on Thursday [tomorrow] you can inform me whether we should proceed with my proposal that after Thursday the case should come again to court the following Monday.”
Court documents show that Kaphwiti Banda secured ownership of the land in 1968 at Kadzamira Village, Traditional Authority Kawere in Mchinji.
However, after fleeing into exile following a fallout with the one-party regime, Kamuzu Banda took over the farm.
In her affidavit, Kadzamira said that Kamuzu Banda later gave it to her as a gift. However, in a previous court appearance, the lawyers discredited both Kamuzu and Kadzamira title deeds as null and void.
The lawyers argue that even “if the court were to momentarily accept” that Kamuzu’s title deed was valid, the farm would still belong to the Kaphwitis.
Records show that her title deed was executed in 1982, but she registered it seven years later in 1989.
During cross-examination, Kadzamira dismissed assertions that she was powerful in the one-party regime and used her influence to grab the estate.
She said there were 50 other applicants seeking to own the farm sitting on 583 771 acres in Mchinji District.