Lands Ministry Launches Major Land Ownership Audit to Tackle Disputes, Illegal Sales and Boost Public Revenue

The two-month audit exercise was officially launched in Lilongwe on Monday by Minister of Lands Chimwemwe Chipungu and will begin as a pilot project in Areas 10 and 3 of the capital before expanding to other parts of the country. Officials say the exercise is designed to verify who legally owns land and whether official records correspond with the actual occupation and development on the ground—an effort expected to expose illegal allocations, fraudulent sales and encroachments that have become widespread in recent years. Speaking during the launch, Chipungu said the government was forced to initiate the audit following a surge in complaints from citizens and institutions about land disputes, illegal transactions and encroachment in urban areas.

He noted that the ministry has received numerous reports from individuals who have either lost land through fraudulent transactions or purchased plots only to discover that the same land had been sold to multiple buyers. “This audit is meant to bring order to the system by matching the official records we have with what actually exists on the ground,” Chipungu said. Beyond resolving ownership conflicts, authorities believe the audit could significantly strengthen public revenue collection.

Government officials say inconsistencies between land registry records and actual land usage have led to major losses in property-related taxes and ground rent, with some plots either not recorded properly or remaining undeclared despite being developed. Through the audit, the ministry expects to establish an accurate database of land ownership, enabling government to collect appropriate ground rent and other land-related fees from legitimate owners. Chipungu revealed that the ministry had previously issued a 14-day ultimatum to individuals who allegedly acquired land illegally to surrender the plots voluntarily.

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However, he said none of those targeted complied with the directive. “As of now, no one has come forward to return land that was obtained illegally despite the ultimatum we gave,” Chipungu said.

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