Residents of Geisha Wedi Township in Mzuzu City, Malawi, are bracing for eviction after a High Court ruling that the land they occupy belongs to the Agricultural Development Corporation (Admarc). Patricia Mkandawire, a 60-year-old mother of five, is among those facing eviction. She has lived in a four-room house on the plot she purchased for K1.2 million in 2022 with her family. The plot also includes a servants' quarter they built a year later.
The Mkandawire family is not alone in their plight. About 2,000 households in the township have been earmarked for demolition. The residents had purchased their plots through local leaders, including Village head Geremani and group village head Yavundika Ngwira, who signed and sealed the purchase papers. However, they only learned that the land might belong to Admarc after settling there.
The High Court ruled on May 14, 2024, that the defendants and other occupants must leave the land within 90 days. In August 2024, the court dismissed an application to suspend execution of the judgement due to procedural defects. On July 9 this year, the court ordered the Sheriff of Malawi to give Admarc possession of the land within 30 days after serving the order on the encroachers.
The residents, through their lawyer Christon Ghambi, have petitioned the Malawi Supreme Court of Appeal's full bench to put aside the implementation of the eviction order. However, by October 24, the apex court had not set a date to hear the matter. The residents have also sought government intervention, with the issue currently in the hands of the President.
Mzuzu City Council spokesperson McDonald Gondwe says the disputed area lacks planning approval because it is designated for institutional use. He faults water connections under the "water for all" initiative in unplanned settlements, saying the case exposes a policy gap that allows utility providers to connect people occupying land illegally.
Land rights scholar Lucky Kabanga attributes recurring land disputes to low awareness of land laws, weak enforcement, and the use of customary practices in urban land transactions. He suggests that authorities could consider regularising some plots if Admarc agrees and the land meets planning requirements.
As the eviction deadline looms, residents like Mkandawire are pleading for a solution. She wants Admarc to sell the plots to the residents, even if they have to pay again. "We made a mistake, but we are willing to buy it again," she says. "To relocate the entire community will be a disaster. To think that the whole house will be destroyed and we will have nowhere to go tortures my soul."
Key points
- Over 2,000 households in Geisha Wedi Township face eviction due to a High Court ruling that the land belongs to Admarc.
- Residents had purchased their plots through local leaders, unaware of the land's status.
- The issue is currently in the hands of the President, with residents seeking government intervention.
