By Wellington Sibale
Communities in Traditional Authority (TA) Symon in Neno are embracing structured land management practices following the development of village land use plans aimed at promoting orderly development and improving land utilisation.
The plans, presented to village heads during an engagement with officials from the Ministry of Lands over the weekend, are designed to guide communities on the proper use of land in line with the Physical Planning Act.
Acting Deputy Director of Quality Assurance for the Southern Region, Elizabeth Tizola, said Malawi’s land is classified as a planning area under the law, meaning every piece of land has a designated use that must be respected.
“As a ministry, we have a Physical Planning Act which tells us that the whole of Malawi is a planned area. So, we start with the national level, then district, and here we are planning even in the village,” said Tizola.
She said the plans cover Group Village Heads Symon and Ngwenyama, as well as the Limbani Irrigation Scheme, all under Senior Chief Symon’s area, and will help communities determine how land should be used for different activities.
Tizola explained that the plans were developed through community participation and are based on existing land use patterns, including residential areas and farming activities.
She said proper planning is important to prevent conflicting land uses while supporting development initiatives such as the Limbani Irrigation Scheme, which covers about 1,600 hectares and has the potential to improve food security in an area frequently affected by dry spells.
Tizola said although some people currently live within the proposed irrigation area, the larger portion of the land has been reserved for the project, with individual plots to be allocated to affected residents once implementation begins.
Senior Chief Symon welcomed the plans, saying they would contribute to development in his area, which has an estimated population of 43,657 people.
“This is a good thing and can help develop our area. We are happy and we commend the ministry for this development,” said Symon.
Neno District Council Physical Planning Officer Wilson Msowoya called for adequate resources to support implementation of the plans, saying physical engagement with communities and local leaders is necessary for their success.
“The implementation will start soon, but we need resources to come physically on the ground, meet local leaders and see how the plan is going to work,” said Msowoya.
He also warned that political interference and resistance by some residents who claim unrestricted rights over land could undermine efforts to implement the plans.
The development is part of the Ministry of Lands’ efforts to promote compliance with the Physical Planning Act and to ensure that residential settlements, farming activities, and other developments follow legally recognised land-use plans.
