By: Collings Kalivute
The Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace (CCJP) has bemoaned increased cases of land disputes in Kasungu district, allegedly perpetrated by a lack of knowledge of the newly enacted land laws.
CCJP District Coordinator for Kasungu Hastings Kalima said monthly, his office registers at least 15 cases of such nature describing it as worrisome.
He said lack of land laws is fueling land dispute cases in the district, hence calls for intensified sensitization campaigns to counter the challenge.
“As you know here in Kasungu we have a lot of estates that occupy a lot of lands. The population has now grown leading to a scramble of land for cultivation as well as settlement, “he said.
Commenting on the development, Kasungu District Council lands officer, Thom Chipwantha acknowledges the issue at hand, arguing the council is overwhelmed by the increase in cases.
Chipwantha, however, said there is hope that the pilot phase of customary land registration currently underway in the district, will help to counter the problem.
“The council has intensified sensitization campaigns to counter the challenge. We are lucky that the pilot stage of customary land registration is currently underway in our district which we hope will help to deal with the challenge,” he said.
A consortium of Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) led by Oxfam Malawi, is piloting the registration of customary land in three districts of Kasungu, Phalombe and Rumphi.
