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Malawi and Zambia authorities are meeting next week to discuss and resolve recurrent border disputes along the border areas around Nyika National park where thousands of residents risk eviction.
Controller of Lands at the Ministry of Lands, Physical Planning and Surveys Patrick Yasini said authorities have agreed to meet and completely resolve the disputes and that a new demarcation of the border is under way.
“We are currently putting up new beacons to clearly demarcate Zambia from Malawi and so far we have covered about 200 kilometres starting from Mchinji and we will go on up to Chitipa,” said Yasini.
The controller said the border demarcation project will cost the ministry about K5.3 million and will go on for three years.
In February this year, Zambian police led by chiefs and municipal authorities evicted over 200 Malawians who allegedly settled on Zambian land. They were later put on around-the-clock surveillance.
The disputed land is part of Chuka Village, T/A Kambokambo, Chama District in Zambia which borders the area under Sub-Chief Zolokere in Rumphi on the Malawian side.
The two chiefs have been quarrelling over the land for many years and there have been sometimes violent acts between the subjects over farming and cattle grazing land.
Officials at Rumphi District Assembly told the press early this year that the wrangles in Chief Katumbi’s area are some of the most sensitive border disputes the country is currently experiencing.
Zambian High Commissioner to Malawi Ian Sikazwe is also on record as saying it is difficult to identify land along the borders of Malawi and Zambia since the demarcation exercise is not yet complete.
The commissioner said border disputes are bound to be there until the exercise finishes.
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