COMMUNITY LEADERS ACCUSED OF SELLING LAND TO MALAWIAN NATIONALS

Community leaders in the border regions of the district of Milange in the central province of Zambezia, are accused of selling farmland to Malawian nationals, stripping hundreds of Mozambicans of their fields. This has led to talk of social tensions and unpredictable consequences. According to Friday’s issue of the daily paper “Noticias”, the regions of Corromana, Molumbo, Majaua and Tengua are reported as the most affected, leaving hundreds of citizens without land to grow food for their families. The residents who denounced these illegal actions carried out by community leaders said that the problem is not new. However, they said that it has been reaching alarming proportions with more people losing their farmland.  Pedro Berson, one of the citizens who denounced the sale of land to Malawian farmers, said that after the harvest all food is taken to Malawi where it is sold. The residents have asked the governor of Zambezia to act immediately to prevent outbreaks of conflict between the people of both countries, who have close historical and cultural ties dating back many years. The residents said they are tired of watching peacefully, and threatened to take measures to solve the problem once and for all. However, they refused to explain what their next step is going to be. “We do not oppose Malawians growing food in our country, but we must ensure that priority is given to Mozambican nationals. In my country I do not have access to the best farmland, so what are my rights as a Mozambican?” asked Alberto Mario. He added that Mozambican nationals should never lose their own land just because of greedy traditional chiefs. The governor of Zambezia, Itae Meque, said that corrective measures will be taken to solve the problem. However, he warned that the issue should be addressed carefully because both peoples have close historical ties. “Maybe that Malawian farmer has a wife here in Milange, or his parents were born here in Milange. Therefore, we need a little more time to study the problem and take the right action” said the Governor, stressing that no citizen is allowed to sell land because it belongs to the Mozambican state. The district administrator of Milange, Alves Mathe, said that these frictions arise when there are conflicts over land use. According to Mathe, it is under these circumstances that the residents find out who is Mozambican or Malawian. He explained that the government is doing its best to ensure that every Mozambican national has access to land. Mathe argued that there is no reason for conflict over the use of land in Milange, since that district has plenty of land and rivers that allow for an increase in production for both peasant families and associations. The governor of Zambezia urged Milange authorities to work closely with community leaders to resolve the matter.