The Centre for Democracy and Economic Development Initiatives (CDEDI) has demanded an urgent national land audit following the displacement of 54 families after 154 hectares of their customary land were sold to a Burundi national in Nkhotakota District, a transaction approved by some local leaders.
Village Head Nzeru, from the area of Traditional Authority Malengachazi in the district, stated that the land sale has plunged his community into crisis, accusing those behind the deal of disregarding the rights and welfare of long-settled families. He said people who had lived on and depended on the land for generations were suddenly treated as trespassers.
Nzeru further alleged that the Burundi national has been using the police to intimidate the affected families, claiming that officers were deployed to threaten residents, carry out arrests, and enforce demolitions. He said the intimidation has created fear in the community and prevented victims from speaking out.
The matter drew wider attention when CDEDI Executive Director Sylvester Namiwa visited the affected families on Saturday to assess the situation on the ground. Namiwa said the Nkhotakota case exposes serious weaknesses in land governance in Malawi, particularly in the management of customary land.
Speaking in an interview after the visit, Namiwa described the developments as unusual and unacceptable, warning that land acquired by foreign nationals must be subjected to strict scrutiny to prevent abuse and exploitation of local communities.
“We need a land audit in this country as a matter of urgency,” Namiwa said. “We must establish who owns which land, for what purpose, whether there is justification for holding it, and whether there is proof that the land was lawfully paid for.”
CDEDI has since vowed to pursue justice for the affected families, insisting that a transparent and comprehensive land audit is essential to protect customary land, restore public confidence, and prevent similar disputes across the country.
