MHC sells Area 47 graveyard: 3 arrested for K7m alleged dubious land deals

Residents of  Lilongwe’ s Area 47 have expressed concern over the behaviour from Lilongwe City Council, Malawi Housing and Ministry of Lands over their conduct allocating land to developers meant for their graveyard.

A block leader in the area, retired Brigadier General Charles Kalumo told said the  Area 47 Cemetery has been demarcated into plots.

Brigadier Kalumo said, although the developer lost the case in court,  but was still continuing with the project.

Ministry of Lands spokesperson Charles Vintula said the area is under the jurisdiction of Malawi Housing Corporation.

Councilor Rose Antonio of Chigoneka ward also condemned  the development , saying graves are protected areas for departed souls.

“You may appreciate that in African culture we believe in respecting dead people So its bad for some people to start buying our grave yard,” she said

“The land was  indeed sold, I can confirm that.  The matter was referred to Court for redress and the Community won,”  he said.

MHC spokesperson Euestina Lunguzi asked for more time before commenting.

Dubious  land deals

Meanwhile, Police in Lilongwe have  three people for allegedly selling other people’s plots of land fraudulently.

Lilongwe police station deputy spokesman  Foster Benjamin said one of the suspects swindled three people out of K7.1 million in fake land deals.

“The suspects have been selling pieces of land posing as agents, land owners and group village  head in Kaphiri, Six Miles, By-Pass and Kalumba areas in Lilongwe,” said Benjamin.

Police arrested Blessings Chiipila, Manase Chipala and deposed Group Village Head (GVH) Chapata; real name Frank Kachitseko for fraudulently selling other people’s plots of land.

The latest  suspected fraud came to light when original landowners showed up to lay claim on the same portions of land.

“The duped buyers reported the matter to Chitsime Police Unit which led to the arrest of the suspects on Thursday.

“They have since been charged with fraud other than false pretense contrary to Section 319 of the Penal Code.

“The Section says any person who by deceit or other fraudulent means obtains property from any person shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable to imprisonment for seven years,” he said.

He added that the suspects would be taken to court soon to answer their relevant charges.

Chiipila, 43, hails from Kalumba Village, Kachitseko, 39, from Chapata Village, and Chipala, 32, comes from Mlewa Village all under Traditional Authority Kalumba in Lilongwe.

Meanwhile, police are calling on any other people who may have fallen victims to the scam to report to the police.– Additional reporting by Daniel Namwini, Mana

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