Kasungu District Council has constituted the land tribunal committee aimed at resolving and responding to the rising cases of land disputes in the district.
The land tribunal committee, comprised of four Senior Chiefs, the Magistrate, and the Registrar of Lands, is chaired by Senior Chief Mwase.
Speaking after presiding over the meeting, the district's Land Registrar Clifton Nsaluyokoma said the committee has been established to provide a localized fast-track and cost-effective mechanism for resolving, mediating, and managing customary land disputes.
He said the establishment of the committee follows the effectiveness of the Customary Land Act of 2022, which decentralized dispute resolution to local levels to address the increasing cases of land disputes.
"Land laws have changed following the enactment of the Land Survey Act, the Physical Planning Act, and the Customary Land Act, which was enacted in 2016 with amendments in 2022.
The establishment of the land tribunal committee falls under customary land law, aiming at handling land disputes at the district level," he said.
Nsaluyokoma further disclosed that his office receives at least 50-100 land-related appeal cases a week, a situation he described as alarming, hence believes the newly established committee will help address the issue.
"Due to the growing population and the high number of farm estates in the district, we receive at least 100 land-related appeal cases a week. However, with this committee, we will be able to resolve such cases as we will be legally bound," said Nsaluyokoma.
Speaking after being elected chairperson of the committee, Senior Chief Mwase said the committee will ease the pressure that Chiefs have been experiencing while dealing with land disputes.
"Land dispute cases have been very stressful for us. As the chairperson of this committee, I will ensure that we execute our duties with total fairness," he said.
Meanwhile, the chairperson of the Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in Kasungu Braxton Banda commended the council for the initiative, arguing that it will ensure fair administration of land and curb corruption in land allocations.
Banda claimed that land issues are critical in nature and has since urged the Ministry of Lands to sensitize the committee and equip its members with knowledge on land dispute resolution.
"In most land dispute cases, women, children, the elderly, and smallholder farmers are among the vulnerable groups. We believe the committee will protect the rights of these individuals," he said.
The tenure of the land tribunal committee will run for three years.
Among the other chiefs in the committee are Senior Chief Kaluluma, Senior Chief Mwase, and Traditional Authority Chitanthamapiri.
