Asian businessman Suleman Khadba has illegally acquired government plot near Kamuzu Central Hospital in Lilongwe which has now become busy spots of construction works, this publication has learnt.
According to leaked documents in our custody from the Ministry of Lands, Khadba with help from some top government officials bought the plot some few years ago under Pearl Ventures Limited.
According to the document, the plot in question was registered as government plot number 2/765 but was changed to plot 2/757 after it was illegally sold to Khadba.
The publication has further leant that Khadba’s agent Mustak Chotia sneaked out of the country weeks ago after noticing that authorities are searching for him over the same land issue.
Mustak Chotia and Suleman Khadiba have been reportedly obtaining land illegally through what is termed as “infill” plots in Lilongwe city.
Even the Century City mall at the Kamuzu Central Hospital roundabout was built on public land after Chotia created infill plots dubiously.
Now with the construction works on the six lane half of the Century City mall will be encroached.
That is not all. This publication understands that the duo also obtained over one hundred plots in area 49 Gulliver for a housing project that was targeting middle income earners upon completion of the houses.
This has also occurred in most parts of the city like on Mchinji road and close to the Kamuzu Central Hospital area.
However, the department of Lands recently wrote the above company informing them to desist from working on the plots since the planning committee discovered that the said plots were on reserved plot for road works and water pipes.
Still Chotia and Suleman Khadiba went ahead to continue in total disregard of the letter written by the then Commissioner of lands Killian Remmie Palika.
“In the said correspondence the commissioner of lands explained that the ministry is reviewing it’s decision to be dealing with Chotia after it was discovered that they are continuing with construction.
But the plots were sold at market value to many people disregarding the proposal submitted to Malawi Housing Corporation.
In the meantime, the same company took infill plots from city mall to the petroda filling station on Mchinji road in the same city.
This publication also understands that the new Sana shop and queens mall all stand on public land created into plots by Chotia and Suleman Khadiba.
Some concerned Malawians are pushing the case to Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) for action.
There was no immediate reaction from Mustak Chotia and Suleman Khadiba on alleged illegal land possession in the capital Lilongwe.
This land issue is a total circus and disgrace to the government. I am saying this because even ministers are embroiled in it. Not long ago a Lands minister was accused of receiving kickbacks following favours he made to some businessmen of Asian origins. To day we are informed one Mkaka is also freely grabbing public land just because he is a minister. If Mkaka is saying there are documents to support his acquisition of land, let him produce it. When that city was being established surveyors demarcated the city limits. Why are local chiefs involved in the distribution of land when the land now belongs to the city whose mandate took effect in the late 70s? Mkaka or whosoever is involved should give back what doesn’t belong to them. And by the way, for how long are we going to hear that Chakwera’s advisors are unabated on a spree sharing government property and we keep on being lied to that the man at the top is not aware? If he is not aware that is why many people are saying there is no leadership in the country for it seems the ship is sailing without a competent captain. Everybody who took what doesn’t belong to them should return them. And by the way, Chakwera should respond to Kamlepo Kalua’s question. If Chakwera is bold and willing to take head-on questions from the parliamentarians, the Speaker of Parliament has no authority to start defending mediocrity and incompetence. Chakwera is a mere person just like Kamlepo and fortunately on our taxes wages, hence having an obligation to sensitise, inform and serve his paymasters. If he is not comfortable getting questioned the best he could do is to step-down or better still do things according to what the Constitution, legal facets, standard operating procedures, government policies outline. This is not a personal estate for one person to do things as he feels fit. This is government business comprising of all the citizens and stakeholders.