MHC, developers fight over land
Property developers in Tsoka, Area 43 in Lilongwe have accused Malawi Housing Corporation (MHC) and Malawi Defence Force (MDF) of grabbing their land and demolishing structures.
The developers had a rude awakening when MHC officers, accompanied by MDF soldiers, raided the area on Monday night and razed down structures that some developers were constructing.
During a visit to the site yesterday, The Nation saw the affected developers and workers looking helpless and devastated as their buildings, including fences that were under construction were reduced to rubble.
The area is located behind the developed Area 43 and is commonly known as Tsoka.
In an interview yesterday, a representative of the affected developers Joseph Chimbuto said they acquired the land, which was customary over, over a decade ago from communities.
He said the developers in 2022 took to court Ministry of Lands, MHC and the Attorney General for alleged interference.
He said: “They were trying to ask us to have our land demarcated so that they can compensate us, but we refused.”
Another developer Edwin Banda expressed shock over the decision to destroy the property, faulting MHC for carrying out the operation without engaging developers.
He said he had spent K250 million on his hotel project in the area.
But MHC spokesperson Enerstina Lunguzi said the corporation owns the land and the erected structures were illegal; hence, the decision to demolish them.
She said: “We are just following the court judgement that was granted to us in 2019 to possess the land and do developments accordingly.”
Lunguzi said MHC bought the land in 2001 and compensated communities.
In a separate interview, Ministry of Lands Principal Secretary Davie Chilonga said government compensated the people that were developing on the land.
He said government spent over K2 billion in compensations.
“People should stop building on public land without permission. No matter how long it takes, it will still be demolished,” he said.
