Area 54 Residents Near KIA to Hold Vigils Over Unpaid K9 Billion Compensation
Published on June 19, 2025 at 9:45 AM by Edgar Naitha
Residents of Area 54 in Lilongwe have written a letter to the Lilongwe District Council informing them of their intention to hold vigils at the District Commissioner’s office starting Monday, June 23, 2025.
This follows the expiration of a seven-day ultimatum that the residents gave to the government through the Ministry of Lands, demanding K9 billion in compensation for their land near Kamuzu International Airport.
According to the letter signed by Kumbukani Pondamali, Binton Thuyathuya, and Rhoda Kaputa, the government had previously committed to compensating them but has yet to fulfill that promise.
The group claims to have held several meetings with government officials regarding the issue, but no tangible progress has been made.
The letter addressed to Lilongwe District Commissioner Dr. Lawford Palani states that residents from villages such as Kamphinda, Khondo, Katola, Dothi, and Chinkhotankhazi under Traditional Authority Chitukula are concerned about the government’s lack of care.
They say that since 2022, they have been waiting for the government to compensate them, as it was the government that initiated negotiations for the land.
“We are worried with the current un-caring government,” the residents expressed.
Recently, the Ministry of Lands said discussions are ongoing with the Ministry of Finance, assuring that the compensation will be paid before the end of the year.
It’s worth noting that the Lilongwe District Council has been involved in various development projects, and the council’s leadership has emphasized the importance of completing these projects on time.
However, issues surrounding land acquisition and compensation have been a challenge in the area.
