Government has commenced sensitization campaigns in some parts of the country on land laws passed in 2016.

Charles Vintulla, Public Relations officer for the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development said the campaigns are aimed at raising awareness about the laws to ensure that people benefit from them.

He added that public engagement will ensure that all the new provisions contained in the Customary Land Act are well communicated to the public through different media platforms and social gatherings.

Vintulla said this should help in clearing up some of the misrepresentations and distortions which existed in some communities.

He said commencement of the campaigns has been delayed since the laws had not yet been gazetted.

“The Customary Land Law was the final to be gazetted this month,” he explained.

Vintulla elaborated that although the campaign is targeting all the districts, only a few pilot districts have so far been selected.

“Currently the laws are being tried in five districts,” he said.

He clarified that the criteria for choosing the pilot districts was based on diversity in customary land tradition and practices.

Vintulla added that some of the laws have been translated in different languages such as Tumbuka and Yawo to ensure greater understanding.

On 14th September 2016 President Peter Mutharika signed into law controversial Land Bills, which were passed in parliament namely, Physical Planning Bill, Customary Land Bill, Land Survey Bill and Land Bill.

So far the districts involved in the campaigns are Kasungu, Phalombe, Chikwawa, Nkhotakota and Mzimba.