Kunkuyu, Nancholi residents in land wrangle
Minister of Tourism and Culture Moses Kunkuyu has irked some residents of Nancholi in Blantyre over a piece of land they claim he encroached on to build a maize selling point.
But Kunkuyu has defended his action, saying he got clearance from owners of the land—Malawi Housing Corporation (MHC)—to build there.
Chairperson of the concerned Nancholi residents, a Mr. Sokosa, said last week that they were alerted to activities on the land about five years ago when people started moulding bricks.
He said the residents assumed the bricks were for a project elsewhere.
“We were recently surprised to see a structure on the land and further learnt that it was a maize depot. We raised alarm because we know that the area is strictly for residential and not meant for commercial purposes,” said Sokosa.
He said the grouping tried to engage MHC on the activities, but claimed that the corporation indicated it had neither allocated the land to anyone nor knew any activities in form of a structure being constructed at the site.
He said the grouping went further to seek direction from Blantyre City Council (BCC), which also said it was not aware of any approvals for construction on the land.
BCC chief executive officer Ted Nandolo said MHC was best-placed to explain the construction of the structure because they only deal with supervision of a project after the corporation has given a go ahead.
“We assume procedures were followed as we have been supervising the project to be of good standard. These kinds of projects are those that are agreed upon with members of the community.
MHC general manager Wezi-Lungu Mkandawire said she was yet to see the land in question and ascertain whether it belongs to them before commenting.
