MHC houses built on private land risk demolition: K3.5 billion wasted

About 65  houses belonging to the Malawi Housing Corporation (MHC) risk being demolished for being built on a private land, it has been reported.

Lawyer Kuleza Phokoso: Our clients own the land
The MHC houses at Ngumbe in Blantyre that risk demolition

According to published reports,  MHC is alleged to have constructed two-bedroom semi-detached houses at Ngumbe in Blantyre on a freehold farming land.

In a story carried by Weekend Nation newspaper, the land belongs to the family of Costas and Samantha Scordis trading under Chitseko Estate Limited.

It is reported that in 2016 MHC obtained a bank loan amounting to about K3.5 billion for construction of the housing units, but ignored a professional advice not to proceed with the project on the land due to ownership issue.

This disregard compelled the Scordis family to file a suit against the parastatal in 2018 demanding a permanent injunctive order stopping it and its agents from claiming ownership of the land, trespassing and encroachment and building of houses.

“The family further demanded MHC and its agents to remove any structures built on the land and “if they do not remove the claimant [Scordis] would demolish and remove all such structures at the cost of the defendants [MHC],” reports the paper.

The Scordis claimed they suffered loss because of the trespass and encroachment on their 53 hectares piece of land for which they were seeking damages for.

The family further alleged despite showing MHC title documents of the land including copies of the maps the corporation insisted owning it although did not produce any document, a claim MHC has objected.

MHC acting chief executive officer Jordan Chipatala opted for public relations officer (PRO) Ernestina Lunguzi to comment  but did not do so.

It is further reported that in a bid to resolve the dispute, Minister of Lands Kezzie Msukwa and his deputy Abida Mia initiated a meeting with the Scordis family and instructed the surveyor general Julius Chisi to ascertain whether MHC had indeed built the houses on land it does not own.

Msukwa did  not immediately comment but Mia said she was aware of the matter , saying she could not comment anything since the matter was in court but said “it will be sorted out amicably.”

Lawyer for the Scordis family and Chitseko Estate Limited, Kuleza Phokoso, when contacted confirmed the meetings between the aggrieved family, Msukwa, Mia and other senior officials from the Ministry of Lands.

Phokoso also said the meetings bordered on an out of court settlement, which the ministry was brokering on behalf of MHC.

The lawyer declined to give details on the issue of out of court settlement which was being discussed insisting he did not have instructions to do so from his clients.

However, he stressed: “Our client’s position in and out of court is that their  land was wrongfully expropriated and their constitutional right to property was violated. This was actually vindicated by the surveyor general’s report on a retracement survey which they conducted.”

Following the ministers’ instructions, the surveyor general sent a team of surveyors led by the deputy surveyor general Omoha Naison Mbalame who reportedly validated that the land in question did not belong to MHC.

Chisi confirmed that his office was requested to carry out a retracement survey of the estate, however, he could not be drawn to divulging the findings.

He is quoted saying: “The survey was done and a report was submitted… Unfortunately, since the issue is still in court, I cannot share the report. Giving answers to a questionnaire you sent means revealing what is on the report.”

A letter dated October 5, 2020 from Chagwamnjira & Company (former lawyers for Chitseko Estate Limited) to Minister of Lands calls for urgent follow up meeting and settlement meetings of all the parties to discuss the way forward bordering on assessment of losses, assessment of damages, the value of the land lost and all the remedies claimed.

“We would like to also communicate that it is our client’s position that all the new houses built by Malawi Housing Corporation on their land must not be rented out or occupied or sold until a settlement is agreed between the parties, paid and complied with by Malawi Housing Corporation to avoid bringing third parties on the land and into these issues,” reads the letter.

In the letter, the lawyers further suggested a schedule for discussions and settlement in the matter by October 23 2020 which has not been implemented yet.

However, whilst awaiting the outcome of the out of court settlement, the Scordis family engaged the estate valuer, Broll Malawi, to price their purported land and property mid last year.

Broll Malawi managing director Ricky Kantema confirmed in an interview on Wednesday having been engaged by the Scordis family for estimation of the land.

“We did the valuation of the properties and the land itself having told that there was a dispute. The report was done and duly submitted to Chitseko Estate. Basically the valuation was done to aid the discussion they have with MHC.

“However, since this is a matter of client relationship kind of engagement I am not in a position to disclose the content of the report because it will be a breach of trust and breach of duty of care in as far as my client is concerned,” said Kantema.

However, investigations by the paper indicate Broll Malawi valued the said land at K2.5 billion which MHC has to pay as compensation or else demolish its houses.

Other documents show trouble for MHC begun in 1992 when it purportedly bought 1022 acres of land from Ngumbe Estate Limited then for one million dollars, equivalent to K1.7 million at that time.

However, unknown to MHC, about 435.791 acres of the land out of the 1022 had already been sold in 1971 by previous owners before Ngumbe Estate Limited sold it to the corporation.

The documents further show MHC then proceeded to sell part of the land to Malawi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) who erected its transmitting station before actual owners, Lunzu Estate Limited, came in to protest and claimed back the land.

In a letter dated November 12 1993 shows MHC admitted being “duped” in the transaction that had a defective title.

“We wish to confirm that on the basis of available evidence Lunzu Estate Limited appears to have prior title and that the sale to Malawi Housing Corporation had a latent defect.

“In this connection, we would appreciate your patience [at least in the next two weeks] for us to sort out the defect with Ngumbe Estates Limited who purported to be the owners of Lunzu Estate,” reads part of the letter signed by Gerry Nkhoma, then MHC corporate secretary.

The fate of the 65 houses, whose construction works were completed almost a year ago remains at a standstill as MHC is failing to either rent them out or put them on the market due to the dispute.

MHC is a statutory body established in 1964 by an Act of Parliament to construct houses, develop plots and maintain existing houses and plots.

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mtete
mtete
2 years ago

53 hectares of land belonging to Scordis, from Greece, no doubt. Koma a Malawi tanyanya generosity. Many countries do not sell land to foreigners.

The Truth
The Truth
2 years ago
Reply to  mtete

Nonsense. You can buy the land next door to the Queen’s Buckingham Palace if you can afford it, or next to the White House if so be it. Don’t be primitive, you think all the Malawians living in Nottingham and Liecester never purchase property? Bottom line is the land was not MHCs. It’s really simple, if you don’t have Title Deeds in your name, don’t start building…

Thugs of Govt.
Thugs of Govt.
2 years ago

Why is that all govt parastatals bosses are nothing but thieves and not forgeting the cabinet ministers, lead by Mkaka. What the hell is president doing about this gross misconduct and rampant stealing through dubious deals and projects. Where on earth does a basic 2 bed house cost MK 53M each??? REALLY???? Woll Malawi EVER GOING TO COME OUT THIS PRACTICE AND CULTURE OF STEELING AND ROOTING PUBLIC FUNDS.??? THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO HOPE!!! Mbava okhaokha . imagine how much minster must have pocketed from AGGREKO for renewing of Escom Genset deal. hole system is full of bunch of crooks… Read more »

mbumba
2 years ago
Reply to  Thugs of Govt.

Is this comment from what is contained in the article above or from elsewhere.Tawelenganinso bwinobwino nanga mpaka MK53M mmalo mwa 53 hectres

Zgokani
Zgokani
2 years ago

The land interests of MHC should be ranked above the land interests of private individuals hoarding land for selfish gains. Government should forcibly evict scordis or whatever you call him these days

Annoyed Malawian
Annoyed Malawian
2 years ago
Reply to  Zgokani

Yes because a govt that forcibly evicts the legal owners of land always does well in the long run. ZIMBABWE case and point.

BigMan
BigMan
2 years ago

Imagine, a foreigner owning all that prime land. Malawi literally on its knees looking for an amicable settlement with the Mzungu. What a shameful state of affairs.

LittleMan
LittleMan
2 years ago
Reply to  BigMan

Eish, some people – mzungu or not clearly government corruption, greed and laziness that has caused this situation in the first place – why make this about race? That kind of thinking is why our people will continue to blame the white man for everything instead of admitting our government is not perfect.

The Truth
The Truth
2 years ago
Reply to  BigMan

Doesn’t matter if the owner is green like Shrek or has three legs, the land was not MHCs in the first place. Private Property is Private Property. If the owner was Black would it make a difference to you? Wrong is wrong, it was not MHCs land in the first place. Why don’t you go try build houses within State Houses fence and see how it goes with your justifications?

PelomaPepe
PelomaPepe
2 years ago
Reply to  The Truth

Good comment. MHC was arrogant to go ahead with this project. Let MHC pay the owner big monies. The Mzungu has nothing to lose.

Justice for all
Justice for all
2 years ago

Thieves against thieves so is it my 68 hectos is worthy about 4 billion wow belanani

tito
tito
2 years ago

how difficult can verifying title of land be..aren’t these things properly documented by relevant authorities which means one just needs to visit the offices!! koma chidziko ichi chinalodzedwadi ndithu… kuteleku huge amounts will be lost without anyone paying the price..we seriously need some serious accountability in terms of jail time for such costly negligence of duty. how could MHC continue with the project during the construction period pouring huge resources into somerhing any sane person would have suspected or known would lead to litigation and costly damages! unless someone did not want to lose out on whatever they were personally… Read more »

Ndafera Nkhande
Ndafera Nkhande
2 years ago

Apa palibe nkhani mungowapezera malo ena ku Namwera azikalima fodya osati mu City ayi ife takana . Eni malo ndi boma osati munthu mmodzi dzimalo dzonse yekha. Uku ndikuphanga .Malawi wa lero siwatsamunda wongopereka malo chifukwa cha khungu. All estates close to cities should revert ownership to government as the jurisdiction of urban areas enlarge. Malawians need land to construct houses around our cities and it is unfortunate that most of the prime land is under colonial settlers. Come on Malawi we need our land period.

Funso Bird
Funso Bird
2 years ago

The dispute aside, I work this out at K53 million for a basic two bedroom house. Really?? If the cost in this article is right.

Zawadi
Zawadi
2 years ago
Reply to  Funso Bird

Ingomanga yako aise.

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