Landowners villages under the areas of Traditional Authorities Katunga and Maseya in Chikwawa District, have given Katunga Maseya (KAMA) Cane Growers Cooperative three days to vacate what they describe as illegally occupied ancestral farmland.
KAMA Cooperative, a major smallholder farming initiative launched in 2023 under former President Lazarus Chakwera’s Mega Farm drive, operates on over 1,069 hectares of arable land dedicated to sugarcane production, with PressCane Limited serving as its offtaker.
The project was introduced as part of efforts to boost commercial agriculture, improve rural incomes and strengthen Malawi’s sugar value chain through organized farmer cooperatives working at scale.
However, what was intended as a model of agricultural transformation is now facing resistance in Chikwawa, where local landowners accuse the cooperative of expanding its operations without proper consent and encroaching on ancestral land.
Speaking at a press briefing on Friday, some of the affected communities, accuse the cooperative of occupying the land without the consent of its owners and claimed local chiefs intimidated residents into accepting the project.
One of the concerned villagers Lovemore Jambo, said the villagers depend on the land for growing maize, millet, sorghum, cowpeas and other crops, arguing that losing access has undermined household food security and livelihoods.
“There has never been any agreement between KAMA and the landowners. These are our farming lands and we are not interested in what they want to do. We are giving them three days to leave, otherwise we will meet them at the land because it belongs to us,” said Jambo.
Concurrently, Amos Kabvina alleged that the communities have spent four years lodging complaints with the Chikwawa District Commissioner and traditional leaders without receiving any resolution.
“We want our lands back and from today no machinery or farm equipment should be used on our lands,” he said.
The Centre for Democracy and Economic Development Initiatives (CDEDI) has backed the villagers, warning KAMA against allegedly forcing people to register their ancestral land with the cooperative for sugarcane production.
CDEDI Executive Director Sylvester Namiwa said the organisation was shocked by reports that communities were being pressured to surrender customary land.
“We are totally against forcing villagers to use their ancestral land for this purpose and therefore warn KAMA to stop this conduct,” said Namiwa.
He cited Section 28 of the Republican Constitution, saying it protects citizens from arbitrary deprivation of property and requires any acquisition of customary land to be carried out lawfully, fairly, reasonably and justifiably.
“If the people are not interested in sugarcane farming, why force them in this manner?” he asked.
Namiwa also claimed that communities in Chisanja and Kasinthula that previously gave up land for cane growing have received minimal returns, alleging that annual dividends are as low as K30 despite surrendering productive farmland.
He argued that villagers should not be deprived of land that supports both their food security and economic wellbeing, insisting that any land-use arrangements must be voluntary and fair.
KAMA Cane Growers Cooperative had not responded to the allegations by the time of publication.
