Office of the Ombudsman has issued a 90-day ultimatum to the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development to produce a comprehensive waiting list of land applications dating from 2004 to 2022.
Ombudsman Grace Malera, speaking in Lilongwe, noted that land allocation complaints have been the most reported issue to her office over this period.
Malera bemoaned what she termed unequal land allocation practices during those years.
According to the Ombudsman, findings reveal that applications were not handled transparently and were not treated on a first-come first-serve basis.
Despite these issues, Malera acknowledged the Ministry of Lands’ recent efforts, praising its cooperation and commitment to addressing longstanding administrative problems since 2022.
In response, the Commissioner of Lands in the ministry, Precious Tembo, said they will continue to comply with the Ombudsman’s determinations.
The Ombudsman further commended the ministry’s resolution of a long-standing case involving Paul Lungu’s 2004 land application.
The ministry pledged to allocate Lungu a plot within the next 60 days.
By Yamikani Makanga
