The land law enacted in 2016, and amended in 2022, according to minister of lands Deus Gumba seeks to end land disputes but also ensure Malawians own land not foreigners.

Gumba was speaking during a sensitization meeting for traditional leaders and district commissioners in the Northern Region on the amended land laws.

According to Gumba, the amended land laws have been welcomed positively by many people in the country, an issue that he says was positive.

He, however, says with sensitization meetings underway, the ministry has also noted that there are some people who are still skeptical about the amended laws, but the ministry will continue to engage them.

He says sensitisation messages will be tailored for each audience depending on their particular needs.

Says Gumba, "When we are changing things it's very natural that they'll be some resistance - some skepticism in terms of the changes. But I should say as a ministry we are still engaging. That is the more reason we are here doing this sensitisation meeting here. Sensitisation is an ongoing process.”

Themba la Mathemba Chikulamayembe has hailed the ministry's effort, saying it will end the selling of customary land which continues to be a problem.

"It is going to be beneficial because the problems of quarrels over land will be reduced,” said Chikulamayembe.

The amended land laws, among others, prohibits the selling of customary estates and payment of registration fees when registering customary land unless it belongs to a company.