By Memory Kutengule Chatonda
Minister of Lands Deus Gumba has challenged the newly appointed members of the Central Land Board (CLB) to exercise fairness, justice, and impartiality when addressing land-related disputes to earn public trust.
Speaking on Friday in Blantyre during a sensitization meeting with the board members, the minister said he was optimistic that the members would deliver intended results because of their high sense of integrity in society and deep understanding of the traditional practices from various regions of the country
“My ministry is counting on you to exercise impartiality when discharging your duties. One of the most significant features of the customary Land Act of 2016 is the provision for voluntary registration of customary land parcels by individuals, households, and families.
“..and during the process, disputes among landowners may occur, requiring solutions. Therefore, the creation of the tribunals, CLB, by laws, is one significant method of addressing land disputes,” he said.
CLB is a governance body composed of chiefs selected from all regions of the country to guarantee the interests of the citizens they represent in land matters, and it is headed by Paramount Chief Chikulamyembe of Rumphi.
It was established to improve transparency, professionalism, and regulation in land administration.
Chief Resident Magistrate, Austin Banda, said establishment of CLB will ensure that courts will only handle land-related issues that are serious in nature.
“The law said matters should come before a tribunal at the traditional authority level, if it fails, then it goes to the CLB, and if it fails, that’s when anyone aggrieved can appeal to the High Court.
“With the new board in place, this means that the cases that the court will handle will be few and only those that are serious,” he added.
CLB Chairperson, Paramount Chief Chikulamayembe, has since pledged to play a vital role in local land governance by ensuring fairness and efficient resolution of customary land disputes through arbitration.
“This will ensure that women and other vulnerable groups are not deprived of their land rights,” he said.
CLB, the first of its kind in Malawi, represents another significant milestone as Ministry of Lands implements land reform programme.
