Displaced villagers from Kasasile in Nkhata Bay District, who claim they were forcibly evicted from their land by Malawi Defence Force (MDF) soldiers in 2024 over alleged encroachment, have vowed not to relocate to Maji Estate in Mzimba District until they receive compensation for their lost property.
Speaking to the local media on Tuesday, Village Headman Mtungambera said the proposed relocation site was too small to accommodate all the affected families and lacked essential social amenities.
Mtungambera has urged the government to prioritise compensation by deploying independent property valuers to assess the value of the damaged and lost property before proceeding with the relocation exercise.
He argued that relocating the affected families without addressing their losses would further disadvantage people who have already endured significant hardship following their displacement.
Meanwhile, Inkosi Mpherembe of Mzimba has expressed concern over the proposed relocation, warning that bringing the displaced families into his area could put additional pressure on existing resources.
The traditional leader said the area already accommodates more than 160 households, raising concerns about the availability of land and other essential resources to support the incoming families.
However, Ministry of Lands spokesperson Fostina Kamanga said government land surveyors were currently demarcating plots to ensure that land is distributed proportionately among the displaced families.
Kamanga, however, declined to comment on the compensation concerns raised by the affected villagers.
The dispute raises questions about the government’s relocation arrangements, particularly the need to address compensation, land availability and access to essential social services before displaced families are resettled.
The Kasasile villagers say they were displaced in 2024 following an eviction exercise involving MDF soldiers over alleged land encroachment.
Government has proposed relocating the affected families to Maji Estate in Mzimba District, but the villagers insist that compensation for their lost property must be addressed before they agree to move.
