It has been confirmed that community members— led by such organisations as People’s Land Organisation, Concerned Landless Citizens of Thyolo and Mulanje and Centre for Democracy and Economic Development Initiatives— accuse plantation owners of having huge pieces of land.

Lands Minister Kezzie Msukwa was called to intervene, as Tea estate owners are counter accusing the community of using their lands. Swiftly responding, Msukwa toured Thyolo District, where he had a roundtable with Tea Association (TA) leaders at Thyolo Sports Club.

Speaking during the meeting, TA Chairperson Sangwani Hara said encroachment was one of the challenges affecting their operations. He said community members had encroached into 15 hectares of land in Makande Estate, adding that the same had happened to Camforzi Estate.