A land ownership dispute between businessmen Ibrahim Swed and Habib James has taken a new turn after the Nkhotakota District Council summoned both men to present documents proving their claims, but only one reportedly showed up.
Malawi24 has learnt that Swed and James were recently summoned by the Nkhotakota District Council and ordered to present documents proving ownership of a disputed plot that both parties claim belongs to them.
According to an anonymous sources familiar with the matter, the council’s intervention was aimed at resolving the standoff after Swed accused James of constructing buildings on land allegedly belonging to his family.
The source say Swed attended the meeting and submitted documents supporting his ownership claim. However, James reportedly did not show up despite being invited to present his evidence before council officials.
Speaking to Malawi24, Swed confirmed that both parties had been called to appear before the council.
The development is likely to intensify scrutiny over the disputed property, where construction activities have already sparked controversy within the district.
Meanwhile, this publication has obtained a separate document issued by the Nkhotakota District Council directing James to stop construction works on another piece of land along the M18 Kasungu Road near the Airtel Shop at Nkhotakota Boma.
In the document, the council maintains that the land under development belongs to the Malawi Housing Corporation and that construction should not proceed.
Efforts to obtain a comment from James proved unsuccessful by the time this article was published.
