Lands Minister Chimwemwe Chipungu says the names of cabinet ministers and other politically exposed people suspected of acquiring plots through questionable means in Lilongwe will soon be made public.
Chipungu said a land ownership audit in Areas 3 and 10 had uncovered several irregularities, including dubious plot allocations and encroachment on reserved and flood-prone land.
He told journalists in Lilongwe that his ministry has a list of people implicated in the findings, including what he described as “big people”.
“Take my word – this will be published. I have the list,” Chipungu said.
He said the names would be published in local newspapers, together with details of the affected plots and their owners.
The audit also found that many plots in Areas 3 and 10 are not registered, while some have remained undeveloped for more than 24 months after leases were offered.
Other irregularities include the transfer of leases for undeveloped plots, unauthorised changes in land use, construction without approval and the creation and allocation of plots outside established procedures.
Chipungu also said some officials within the Ministry of Lands had been operating what he called a “parallel Ministry of Lands”, allegedly allocating plots without following the required procedures.
He said the names of implicated officials had been submitted to the police, while action had already been initiated against some of them.
The minister said the government would also take action against illegal developments, including demolishing structures built in violation of the Physical Planning Act.
Chipungu said the ministry would continue working to improve transparency and accountability in land administration.
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