After years of waiting for new homes, hundreds of displaced families from Nkhata Bay have decided to take their frustration to the country’s political centre, as they march to Capitol Hill to demand answers from government.
At least 367 families from Kasasire in Nkhata Bay District are heading to Lilongwe’s Capitol Hill, accusing government of failing to honour its promise to resettle them more than two years after they were evicted from their homes.
The families claim they were evicted from their land by Malawi Defence Force (MDF) soldiers in 2024 and have since been living in difficult conditions without permanent shelter, clean water and reliable food supplies.
Chairperson of the affected families, Lucky Botha, said the prolonged delay has left the community with no option but to organise a peaceful march to Capitol Hill to demand immediate government intervention.
“We have waited for too long. Our people continue to suffer without decent shelter, safe drinking water, and adequate food. We want the government either to return our land or allocate us alternative land where we can finally settle,” said Botha.
Human rights advocates have also expressed concern over the situation.Centre for Human Rights and Rehabilitation (CHRR) Executive Director Michael Kaiyatsa described the continued delay in resettling the families as unfortunate, urging the government to expedite the allocation of land to the displaced households.
“It is unfortunate that these families remain in such difficult conditions years after their eviction. The government should act with urgency to ensure they are resettled and that their rights are protected,” Kaiyatsa said.
When contacted for comment, Ministry of Lands spokesperson Fostina Kamanga said she needed more time to consult relevant authorities before responding to the concerns raised by the affected families.
“I need more time to consult the relevant authorities. I will provide feedback once the consultations are complete,” Kamanga said.
