Asian in Malawi accused of grabbing land and residential plots

A scam has been unearthed in Lilongwe where Asians of Malawian origin have are grabbing land and residential plots from the local people to establish their companies.

Zahid Faruk: Land grab

The scourge is said to be rife in Lilongwe with Zahid Faruk Sattar of Pioneer Real Estate, who is also the owner for Glassco, is building on local people’s plots with impunity.

Many land deals which he is involved are being negotiated without transparency and local consultation with help of a Mr Mangani the controlling officer in the Ministry of Land and his assistant a Mr Selemani.

Whistle-blowers have said Zahid Frauk has been helped with “fake” papers and then land officials “blackmails” actual owners of the plots to say they no longer own the land then he mediates the two parties into an agreement making a payment to the actual owner and the new owner benefits.

Law enforcing agencies are said to be informed about a number of transactions but investigations have been hampered due to corruption.

And Malawi Revenue Authority (MRA) are also keeping an eye on the Asian businessman who has build  a state- of-art new mansion in the prime area of Lilongwe worth about K600 million.

He sold his previous home in Area 2 in Lilongwe for K500 million.

In another reported incident, Zahid Frauk  created fake documents selling off a property in Area 9 of Lilongwe belonging to Mr Jussab a  deceased and the original documents are with the deceased’s sister in Bolton, England.

The fake documents are said to have been made with the help of Mangani and had the property sold.

Another scam involves a  land sold near Likuni round about which is belived to have been part of the ‘land grab’.

Ministry of Land officials could not deny or confirm the scam, but said not every deal is a “land grab” – much depends on the terms of the lease and whether these reflect the consent of local landholders when buying.

But for local people, the context in which the deals are being concluded tends to make negative outcomes  with Asians using money power.

Meanwhile, Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Charles Msosa has said the development of the Customary Land Act is essential for the economic development of the country,

“The act will reduce the burden most traditional leaders had in the country in settling land issues on customary land. The act will act as a guideline to the management of land issues in the country,” Msosa explained.

Land is an extremely contentious issue in Malawi and many of the country’s political elite are themselves profiting from land-seizures.

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Banda Rodgers
6 years ago

What else? Malawians are poor…govt doesnt know how to utilize land for its best puporse….the ruling party members are full….Malawians are mourning in agony of poverty….money for electricity ,roads , food, disaster management, offices maintanances, market places, roads in locations, agriculture, forestry, ….etc….is going in the pockets of the rich…. Some are busy buying cars overseas….yet the headman supports and praises….and promising new heaven in 2018….. We are doomed….

James
James
6 years ago

Such articles is inciting hatred towards the minority , Asians are normally hard working and develop the land. Very few would be involved in illegal acquiring of land , most of the fraudsters are locals and I am sure this article is created by someone who tried to crook some Asians.

Citizen
6 years ago

Amwenyewa mukuwalekelera n’chifukwa chake akutipezelera kuno kokhala kwathu. Kwawo ku India akuthawako chiyani?

Peter Banda
Peter Banda
6 years ago

most Asians are hardworking people, and pay their taxes. This story is just intended to paint them in a bad light. In all these deals, is not enough money being spent on “bribes” and “facilitation fees” to the concerned government officials? If it was true that real land owners were being cheated of their land, then there would have been an uprising or serious police action involving government and law enforcement officials. Just because someone has money and buys land does not mean that he has cheated people, or that he has obtained his money through fraud. See how difficult… Read more »

Banda Rodgers
6 years ago
Reply to  Peter Banda

Pet dear I like your comment… Those with ears can get something from your writings…and those with deaf ears are simply laughing in their sleeves and shouting DPP, MCP, UDF etc…for they know that joining parties is the only source of making money…. Imagine how the blind scrumble for positions in parties….. Education has no value now!!!!! These foreign national are not stealing but buying….

Nok
Nok
6 years ago

All persons wwerd not born in malawi or have foreign citizenship or parents holding foreign citizenship MUST be charged land lease of about K250000 per year per every plot owned and must not own more than 2 plots. If intending to own m9re than 3 plot such persons upon priducing their birth certificates and their parents birth vertificate shall be charged a surtax of equivalent half of the market value of the plot per year. This is to ensure ingidenoues malawians of any race or background have some land entlitlement since this is their only home and only place their… Read more »

Che Wanimiliyoni
Che Wanimiliyoni
6 years ago

Asians of Malawi origin should be buying land easily than Malawians of Asian origin.

Dr Fiderus Miyoyoooo
Dr Fiderus Miyoyoooo
6 years ago

Izi NDE zaku nyapo

william chimpinga
william chimpinga
6 years ago

Mumange wakuBaa yamaata amenyo wa land. Akupeza ameneyo aapezaa magic ku land aamakharaa ya anthu paribe darama akuseweraa amenyoo.

Farhan
Farhan
6 years ago

Whilst I do not agree with corruption at all, it must be noted that such acts cut across societal strata. I just wish Nyasa Times would refrain from using racist labels, which distract from the main issues, which are: our gradual disintegration of morals and ethics.

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