Minister Muluzi engages CCAP Nkhoma synod on land bill sensitization

Minister of Lands housing and urban development Atupele Muluzi has  said government is committed to engage the civil society and other stake holders to sensitize the people about just passed land bills.

The Minister was speaking during sensitization meeting at Nkhoma synod conference when he had an audience with CCAP Nkhoma synod committee in Lilongwe.

He  said that the meeting came at the right time when there  is wrong  information going around on land reforms bill.

The Minister added that bills; No2 of 2016 land bill; bill No3 of 2016 physical planning; bill No6 of 2016 land survey and billNo9 of 2016 customary land once assented to by the president will enhance order in land administration.

“We want to empower land owners so that they should be able to use land as collateral to obtain a loan from the bank.” said Muluzi.

He also said that the new land bills have vested all the power in the hands of traditional leaders unlike in the past when the president of the republic had the power through the ministry of lands.

“The bills once assented will enable traditional leaders to administer and manage land trough land committees at village level who would be responsible for registering the land.” Muluzi explained.

Reverend Armstone Kuthyola Mwale, Chairperson for land and infrastructure committee of CCAP Nkhoma synod said he was in total support of the government efforts to disseminate the information to people in the grass root with an aim to have a common goal of communicating the massage with one voice.

“As an interested party in the land bill issue we will get the truth to people at the very bottom through sensitization.” He said.

Nkhoma synod general secretary (GS) Reverend Vasco Kachipapa said the sensitization meeting will help reduce some problems they are facing on land demarcation and ownership after they had been unlighted because the knowledge gained will promote and enhance consultation.

“Land bill 2016 seeks to improve land administration and management in country and shall reduce misunderstandings between traditional leaders and the synod.” He said.