CESCR: Malawi must ensure economic, social and cultural rights of communities affected by land grabbing
Local chiefs in the Dedza District of Malawi have been linked to economic, social and cultural rights violations. Malawi must comply with its international human rights obligations and ensure that communities with customary land rights are granted full ownership of their land.
The Center for Social Concern in Malawi, with support from FIAN international has submitted a parallel report to the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural rights. The report focuses on human rights violations linked to land grabbing and forced eviction of community members from Phanga Village in Dedza district. Their land was acquired by the South African company Crown Plantations and community members were relocated 200 km away from their land in Mchinji District.
The loss of the land has caused several human rights violations including the right to food and nutrition, the right to land, water, health, education and adequate housing, as well as women’s rights. The report deplored the manner in which the affected community lost their land without adequate compensation.
“Community members have lost their livelihood and today they live in a precarious situation. Justice must be done and those responsible for the violations of community members’ human rights must be held accountable,” says Tobias Jere, Project manager at the Center for Social Concern, a faith-based organization that promotes a just society.
The affected community members have been pushed into poverty and cannot feed themselves adequately. The new land, allocated through the government, is less fertile and they are unable to cultivate their customary crops. The change of culturally accepted meals, which are healthy and nutritious has increased wasting, stunting and left many children underweight. Malnutrition has increased among adults, significantly impacting pregnant and breastfeeding women. Additionally, affected community members lack sufficient access to health centers and irrigation. They cannot afford to buy materials to construct adequate houses and children continue to drop out of school due to poverty.
“The government of Malawi must ensure that the economic, social and cultural rights of community members affected by land grabbing in Phanga Village in Dedza district are protected. Equally, it must ensure that in the new relocation district of Mchinji, the soil quality is improved and legal framework is put in place to ensure that customary rights over the land tenure gives the ownership of the land to affected community members,” says Valentin Hategekimana, Africa Coordinator at FIAN International.
Read the full ESCR parallel report on Malawi here.
For more information, please contact Valentin Hategekimana hategekimana@fian.org