Deputy Housing Minister Abida Mia rescues MHC tenants from eviction at Ngumbe

Deputy Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Abida Mia, has assured Malawi Housing Corporation (MHC) tenants at Ngumbe in Blantyre that no one will be evicted from the houses, which sit on privately-owned land.

Mia visited the tenants this morning where she assured that the government would initiate action and bilateral mediations with the family that owns the land.

MHC constructed 65 two-bedroom semi-detached houses, which MHC built on freehold farming land belonging to the family of Costas and Samantha Scordis.

In 2018, the Scordis dragged the corporation to court, but with the case still in court, MHC allocated the houses to tenants.

The highly effective Deputy Minister Abida Mia talking to distressed tenants

This prompted the Scordis family to obtain an order to evict the tenants where the MHC built 65 houses after obtaining a K3.5 billion loan.

On Friday afternoon, police and the family’s lawyers invaded Ngumbe to evict families from the houses. The families were ordered to leave the houses by Saturday.

Abida reassuring of Govt help to resolve the issue.

Among others, the Scordis family is demanding the resource-constrained corporation and its agents to remove any structures built on the 53 hectares piece of land; and that, if the corporation does not remove them by itself, the Scordis would demolish and remove all such structures at the cost of the MHC.

The family’s lawyer Kuleza Phokoso said MHC proceeded to build the houses on the land despite a dispute over the 53 hectares piece of land.

But when she visited the tenants this morning, Mia assured the tenants that no one is vacating the houses.

She said the government is paying full attention to issue and is working towards resolving the matter with the Scordis family.

The matter dates back to 2018.

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BigMan
BigMan
2 years ago

How does a foreigner buy so many hectares of our Prime Land? Which Malawian idiot approved the sale? On what grounds was it approved? And who is this stupid Lawyer so eager to chase fellow Malawians from their houses?

The whole scenario just shows what is wrong with this country called Malawi.

The Truth
The Truth
2 years ago
Reply to  BigMan

In context to the article and what has been publicized so far, you will see it is an established and running Farm. No different to how a Malawian owns Katete Dairy Farm right within Lilongwe City… These farms were established long before the cities grew to reach them. The fact that the city has grown to reach the farms doesn’t mean MHC can just start colonizing the farms without due diligence.

BigMan
BigMan
2 years ago
Reply to  The Truth

How does a foreigner grab so much land? Is it a white settler like the ones who grabbed land in Thyolo?

We need to approriate this piece of land without compensation.

The Truth
The Truth
2 years ago
Reply to  BigMan

Grab, or buy? Just because you cannot afford to buy 53 Hectares of land doesnt mean others can’t. Live and comment within your financial means. At the end of the day the law is the law, Title Deeds are title deeds. MHC broke the law building on land that was in court. There own fault for being too confident, and clearly your own fault for assuming it was ‘grabbed’ by anyone. The court was not determining if it was grabbed, the court was determining if MHC had a right to build on it. They ruled that MHC was not the… Read more »

President Mkango Chisokonezo Manthakanjenjemereza
President Mkango Chisokonezo Manthakanjenjemereza
2 years ago

i agree if a white man evicts the black man in his soil I thing we have a big problem. These guys should know that all the land belongs to Malawi Government and all black people I think its high time for Malawi to have laws to protect the real Malawian. These foreigners should be investigated how they acquired a land in blackman country . if they are bonna fide citizen they should relocate for the good of Malawi.

Anti Atsamunda
Anti Atsamunda
2 years ago

Only in Malawi such foolishness can happen, Scordis in not Malawian name. I get these people do not even have Malawian passport, government should deport these crowns back where they came from withing 24 hours. Case closed. The tenants should fight back against to traiter police men. Set the say, I will volunteer.

Jahsoldier
Jahsoldier
2 years ago
Reply to  Anti Atsamunda

School is very important. You hate foreign people so much for no reason. These people bought the land legally…they informed MHC who decided to ignore them. So MHC is wrong end of story. You can deport yourself. Lots of love from me….Legal Malawian

BigMan
BigMan
2 years ago
Reply to  Jahsoldier

Apartheid was Law too at a certain time. So was slavery. Who cares if these foreigners took advantage of the law? Its our Land, we cant allow these colonial attitudes to flourish. Its bad enough that all our cities prime land is owned by foreigners who were favored by colonialists and were happy to work with them to keep the Africans down. Try going to India or London and buying 100 hectares whilst holding your Malawian citizenship.

Zachambaiwe
Zachambaiwe
2 years ago
Reply to  BigMan

You dream too much. Its a shame you have such an inferiority complex about yourself, you would be surprised how much land you can buy anywhere in the world if you can afford it. The problem with you is the Nkolokosa Budget dreaming of New York property empire. Kikikikikiki! What if this 53 hectares belonged to Anabanda or Anaphiri, you would still be barking that MHC is correct to build on someones land? Why dont you try build in State House garden and see what happens to you, Chitsiluuuuu

The Truth
The Truth
2 years ago
Reply to  Anti Atsamunda

Very stupid. My friend, even as stupid as you are, you can buy the land next to the Queen at Buckingham Palace. This is a global economy and Malawi is part of it. Do you know how many Black Malawians own property in UK in Nottingham and Leicester? Please, keep this Chimidzi attitude to yourself. These people have Title Deeds from 3 generations back, long before you were even born. The Law is the The Law, you do not build on land that is title-deeded to someone else. The problem here was MHC incompetencies and thinking they were above the… Read more »

BigMan
BigMan
2 years ago
Reply to  The Truth

To hell with you! We cant allow foreigners to keep holding on to land which was gotten due to them being white settlers with assistance of the colonial governments. We want our land back.

The Truth
The Truth
2 years ago
Reply to  BigMan

LittleMan, Rule of Law is what your President promised you. this is rule of law. But don’t worry, you will get a piece of land in the United States of Thyolo with Wandale soon.

Jackls
Jackls
2 years ago

MHC have qualified surveyors on their staff. Either the surveyors knowingly gave false advice or the management and planners chose to ignore that advice. Furthermore once the issue was highlighted MHC still continued with the issue. With all the dubious goings on these days one feels that there is collusion and intent to share a big pay out. Who suffers? Who pays? You and me.

Mulopwana
Mulopwana
2 years ago

Heads wil roll here

Ali Palimandi
2 years ago
Reply to  Mulopwana

Tails bwa!

Nyadani phiri
Nyadani phiri
2 years ago

This is the way to go…whatever misunderstanding is there Govt shud own it and resolve it amicably without evicting the tenants or demolishing the houses

Banda
Banda
2 years ago

So what you are saying the Minister and Deputy Minister the Government are now acting in contempt of court on held of the tenants because they lost the court case!!!! Now forced to negotiate with the true owner.The Minister should be doing his job and enact landlord tenant laws so that no one is evicted under 60 days. More importantly media houses should be questioning why it cost 106 million for one house divided into two units. 3.5 billion for 65 units if they did not purchase the land. Plus legal and court costs and likely the cost now to… Read more »

Jahsoldier
Jahsoldier
2 years ago
Reply to  Banda

Why 40%. Would you allow that amount if the land was yours? The tenants must be taken care of by MHC. No more stupidity from government companies…no1 is above the law

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