MDLN threatens to expose council officers over alleged illegal land allocations
A governance watchdog in Mzimba has issued a stern warning to local authorities, threatening to publicly name council officers allegedly involved in illegal land allocations if urgent action is not taken to address the matter.
The Mzimba District Lands Network (MDLN) says it is prepared to release the names of officials suspected of acquiring plots of land surrounding a local hospital under questionable circumstances, amid growing concerns over the mismanagement of public land.
In a recently released press statement, MDLN reaffirmed its commitment to exposing what it described as dubious land sales and allocations involving some council officers.
The network alleges that the land, originally designated for public use, has been irregularly distributed among officials and other influential individuals within the council.
Speaking in an interview, MDLN Chairperson Teckson Amadu revealed that the network recently engaged Mzimba District Commissioner Emmanuel Bulukutu in a bid to seek clarification and action on the issue.
However, Amadu expressed disappointment with the response from the Commissioner’s office, accusing it of failing to demonstrate seriousness in addressing the allegations.
“Our expectation was that the District Commissioner’s office would thoroughly investigate the concerns we raised, especially considering that we provided supporting evidence. Unfortunately, there appears to be reluctance to act, and this is deeply concerning.”said Amadu.
Amadu warned that continued inaction could raise suspicions of possible complicity within the District Commissioner’s office.
“If no action is taken, it may suggest that those entrusted with responsibility are also part of the questionable transactions we are highlighting,” he added.
He further disclosed that MDLN is planning to engage the Public Works Service Committee, which also functions as the Land Allocation Committee, to escalate the matter to the full council for deliberation and possible resolution.
The network has also called for all officers from the Physical Planning Office and the Lands Department who are suspected of involvement in the dubious land allocations to be suspended pending investigations.
It warned that it will proceed to publish the names of the individuals allegedly involved if authorities fail to take decisive steps to investigate and rectify the situation.
Good governance expert Griffin Maruwasa has called on the M’mbelwa District Council’s District Commissioner (DC) to take urgent action over allegations that some council officers are involved in dubious land sales.
Maruwasa expressed concern that the issue has been overlooked for some time, warning that continued inaction could undermine public trust in the council’s leadership.
“If you see the controling is failing to take action just know that he or she is compromised”- Maruwasa
“The DC is the controlling officer, and if he fails to act, it signals that the officer may be compromised,” he said.
He stressed the need for accountability and transparency in land administration, urging authorities to promptly investigate the matter and restore confidence in the council’s operations.
Efforts to obtain a comment from the Mzimba District Commissioner’s office proved futile by press time.
The controversy has since triggered concern among residents and stakeholders in the district, with growing calls for transparency, accountability, and proper management of public land resources.
