MALAWI: Govt threatens to evict informal settlers

[ This report does not necessarily reflect the views of the United Nations]

LILONGWE, 11 Aug 2005 (IRIN) - Malawian authorities have ordered residents of informal settlements in the capital city, Lilongwe, to vacate their homes by 18 August.

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Surveys George Mkondiwa said in a statement that failure "to comply with the notice [to vacate illegally occupied land] will result in government being compelled to deal with the offenders in accordance with the laws of Malawi".

Over the years rental prices have increased in the city, and those who could not afford formal housing occupied undeveloped land in and around the capital.

Some residents of informal settlements have refused to vacate their homes, accusing the government of being inconsiderate, given the lack of affordable formal housing. Residents also claimed they had received permission to occupy the land from various authorities, such as local chiefs, officials of the Lilongwe city assembly and the Malawi Housing Corporation.

District Commissioner Charles Kalemba has rejected their claims.

"We do not have chiefs in the cities, and it is not true that our local [authorities] were allocating land to the people. It is not our responsibility and, if anything, the people who [have authority to] deal with this issue are from the ministry of lands," Kalemba told IRIN.

Mkondiwa said the ministry would demolish all structures illegally erected on city land, as the law prohibited the "carrying out of any development activity on any land within a planning area without obtaining permission".

But Collins Magalasi, national coordinator of the NGO, Malawi Economic Justice Network, urged the government not to be hasty.

"I would like to caution government over the land issue. It should handle this matter very carefully - you cannot just chase people [off the land where they are living]," Magalasi told IRIN.

He said government should provide an alternative to those who "do not have money but need a place to sleep".

Rafiq Hajat, executive director of the Institute for Policy Interaction, said demolishing houses in informal settlements amounted to "victimisation of innocent people", adding that those who lost their homes should be compensated by the government.

He noted also that the government should have made alternative arrangements for "those poor people before evicting them".

About 65 percent of Malawi's population live below the poverty line, while rapid urbanisation has resulted in increased demand for housing in cities.

[ENDS]