The Malawi Human Rights Commission (MHRC) has extended time for soliciting of views from the general public on review of land laws to January 21, 2021 from the initial deadline of January 6, 2021.

In October last year, President Lazarus Chakwera directed Ministry of Lands to review all land laws to address the flaws in the legislation and be presented in Parliament for deliberation.

But Director of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights at MHRC Makhumbo Munthali said the Commission which was tasked to by the lands ministry to carry out the exercise of soliciting views has extended the deadline to allow more people to participate in the process.

“The President meant that it has to be July not the February sitting so that meant that the time that the Minister of Lands had given to different stakeholders to provide their position has to be extended too for the stakeholders to submit the submissions,” said Munthali.

Munthali added that the full report on the submissions will be presented in the July sitting on the National Assembly.

“These submission will inform the position the MHRC will have to make in terms of recommending to government through the Ministry of Lands in which specific areas of land laws that need to be reviewed,” said Munthali.

MHRC wrote over 20 organisations in the country including the controversial Peoples Land Organisation (PLO).

Among other areas, the Commission is requesting the stakeholders to submit information in response to three key questions which are key issues affecting land governance in Malawi, specific provisions in the current land laws are those particular organisation would recommend for review and provisions they would propose to be added in order to facilitate proper management and administration of land in the country.