The Supreme Court has dismissed an appeal by former government official hostess Cecilia Tamanda Kadzamira, upholding a High Court ruling that recognised the Kaphwiti Banda family as the rightful owners of Tichitenji Estate in Mchinji.
A panel of seven Supreme Court judges, sitting in Lilongwe, dismissed Kadzamira’s appeal with costs, affirming the High Court’s 2025 decision in favour of the Kaphwiti Banda family.
Kadzamira had challenged the ownership of the estate, arguing that the late former president Hastings Kamuzu Banda gave her the property in 1972.
However, the Kaphwiti Banda family maintained that their ownership dated back to 1966, as supported by their title deed.
Following the ruling, members of the Kaphwiti Banda family broke into celebrations outside the court, describing the outcome as a major victory after years of pursuing justice over the disputed property.
Speaking in an interview, the family’s lawyer, Wapona Kita, welcomed the Supreme Court’s decision, saying the grounds advanced by Kadzamira in challenging the High Court ruling lacked merit.
Kita said the High Court had properly interpreted and applied the law, adding that its findings were supported by evidence and matters properly pleaded by the parties.
“The appeal has been dismissed with costs, so we will sit down and assess how much costs have been incurred to be paid by Mama Kadzamira,” said Kita.
Kadzamira’s lawyer, Khumbo Soko, acknowledged the outcome, saying his client had exhausted the available legal processes in her quest to claim ownership of the estate.
Soko said his client respected the court’s decision and that it was now time to move on.
Meanwhile, family representative Tapiwa Kaphwiti Banda described the ruling as a dream come true and a moment of closure for the family.
She said the prolonged legal battle had taken a heavy toll on the family, making the Supreme Court’s decision a huge relief.
“We are thankful to God for this victory and may our dad’s soul rest in peace,” she said.
Tapiwa added that the family had prayed for the matter to be resolved while their mother was still alive so that she could witness the vindication of their ownership claims.
“Our prayer was that this victory should come while our mother is still alive to witness this, her faith should pay off and that is exactly what has happened,” she said.
She also urged Kadzamira to accept the court’s decision and move on.
The dispute concerns Tichitenji Estate, which was reportedly taken from the Kaphwiti Banda family more than 50 years ago after the late Elias Kaphwiti Banda went into exile.
In 2025, the High Court ruled in favour of the Kaphwiti Banda family, recognising it as the rightful owner of the disputed estate.
Kadzamira subsequently appealed the decision, leading to the latest Supreme Court ruling.
