Minister of Gender, Community Development and Social Welfare Patricia Kaliati has warned that government will punish anyone found violating women’s rights to own land.
The minister made the remarks on Tuesday at Traditional Authority Makanjira in Salima during the launch of Land 4 Her project run by Women’s Legal Resources Centre (Worlec).
The two-year project is supported by WE Effect and aimed at supporting women and youth to have increased security of land tenure as well as ensure that their voices on land rights are amplified.
Kaliati said women being the most vulnerable group on issues of land grabbing, need to have their land rights protected for both men and women have equal rights to own land according to the country’s Constitution.
“Women constitute the majority of the country’s population; hence, issues of land rights are vital for them. It is sad to note that our society take men as controllers of land, discriminating women,” she said.
Worlec executive director Maggie Kathewera Banda said the project came about so women do not own land and that their land is controlled by men.
“So, we thought of introducing this project so that we sensitize the masses on their rights and that they should be able to claim their rights and own land,” she said.
WE Effect director Esther Chirwa said the project which is being implemented in Salima, will also be implemented in Zomba
