More school plots encroached as lang-grabber Mustag ‘untouchable’ for his DPP links
Apart from Livimbo School in Lilongwe’s Area, more public schools have been encroached by individuals after the plots were dubiously sold, Parliament’s Legal Affairs Committee has said.
The committee’s chairperson Kezzie Msukwa told journalists that their inquiry found the schools like Chimutu, Chilambula, New Shire and Magwero have also their plots been invaded by some developers.
Msukwa said other schools in Blantyre were also encroached.
“What is happening at the Ministry of Lands is stinking and we shall ensure that all bad elements are exposed and brought to book, and all illegal developments shall be destroyed in accordance with the laws,” said Msukwa.
He added: “We have realised that there are more government plots and land allegedly encroached; so we will engage a full throttle investigation.”
Minister of Lands and Urban Development, Symon Vuwa Kaunda conceded that public schools had been targetted in the land-grabbing scams that his ministry is also investigating
But the parliamentary committee said they will also investigate the sale of plots in new Area 43 in Lilongwe which were reportedly sold to immigrants.
Police recently busted a syndicate which run a parallel government lands office in the Capital City by selling land to unsuspecting buyers using fake documents.
However, the matter has stalled as sources at Police headquarters say one of the arrested land-grabber Mustag Mahomed is “powerful” and cannot face the law.
Mustag is member of the governing Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and is seen in public rallies by President Peter Mutharika and the recent one he attended was in Balaka.
“This case will go no where. Mustag is powerful and untouchable. There is more to this land-grabbing scam than meets the eye,” said a top police source.
Mahomed was arrested together with Chifuniro Simumbe and the lawyer Umahu Mataka whilst the fourth suspect Alex Mawaya is on the run.
“These people transacted and sold plots using fake documents,” said Principal secretary in the ministry of Lands and Urban Development Joseph Mwandidya.
He said six plots were sold by the suspects.
“We have been receiving complaints from people of their plots being sold without their knowledge,” he said.
The principal secretary said the plots include one on plot number 47/1219 which was sold by Mahomed at K300 million whilst Simumbe and Mawaya sold plots on plot numbers Area 43/999, Area 43/998, Area 43/995, Area 43/994 and Area 43/993 at K50 million each.
Also suspected in the ‘landgate’ scam include Mustak Chotia and Suleman Ismail who bought the land dubiously from Malawi Housing Corporation (MHC) and sold three flats developed there to Roza Mbilizi of Malawi Revenue Authority (MRA).
Chothia and Ismail have been exposed by former official at Ministry of Lands and Urban Development, Flemings Chifombo, who was arrested on allegations that they were forging signatures and produce lease documents.
The law enforcers also nabbed Diverson Mlozi, Rose Ajasi and an Indian Abubooker Istiaq.
Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development busted a parallel ‘Lands Office’ in Lilongwe which allegedly transacted and sold plots with counterfeit documents. Seven suspects were arrested in connection with operations of the dubious ‘Lands Office’.
The syndicate has been discovered after President Peter Mutharika had directed the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development to attend to a lot of complaints on double land allocations and issuing of illegal certificates and deeds, according to Mwandidya.
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