By Jones Gadama
The Malawi Government is heading to court to reclaim prime land in Area 10, Lilongwe, as the fight to save the city’s wetlands intensifies.
Lands authorities have confirmed they are taking legal action to strip property developer Karamat Chaudhry of Plot No. 10/719. An immediate halt has been ordered on all ongoing construction at the site.
Officials say the plot sits in a protected catchment area that is meant strictly for conservation and flood control, not for commercial development.
Government insists that allowing a shopping complex there would destroy a critical wetland and put Lilongwe residents at risk of flooding.
The court case follows a PIJ investigation that uncovered illegal land allocations, missing government records, and a standoff between city officials over the controversial plot.
The report raised serious questions about how protected land was allocated and who approved it.
The Ministry of Lands says it will not allow the destruction of public wetlands for private gain. If the court rules in government’s favor, all structures on Plot 10/719 will be demolished and the area will be restored as a wetland.
Environmentalists and Lilongwe residents have welcomed the move, saying Area 10 wetland plays a key role in managing storm water and protecting nearby communities. Photos of the construction have been circulating online with many Malawians demanding accountability.
This case is now being watched closely as a test of government’s commitment to protect public land and the environment.
