MALAWI (Commonwealth Union)_Foreigners are not permitted to purchase real estate in Malawi. Instead, partnerships between foreign investors and Malawians are urged in order to purchase real estate.
Property purchases in Malawi are restricted to nationals of Malawi. Any Malawian may purchase land in Malawi without restriction under the law. In Malawi, there are no discriminatory land laws. Both married and unmarried men and women must adhere to them. One is free to purchase any land that is for sale so long as they can afford to.
Purchasing property requires a lot of funds. Although it seems easy, it’s not. Anyone with experience could tell you that purchasing land in Malawi is a difficult procedure. It can occasionally be difficult and dangerous. Any buyer is hence advised to exercise caution.
Malawi’s three main property subcategories include government, public, and private lands are included here.
Government lands
This is land that is privately owned by the government. It is a piece of land set aside for national use. It only applies to governmental structures. Government organizations have set aside this area for the development of hospitals, schools, and other initiatives.
Public land
There is public land that is controlled by the government or a traditional authority and is held in trust. The public has free access to the property. National parks, forest reserves, and cultural sites are included. Additionally, any useless land, dambos, and collective grazing zones are considered to be public lands.
Private Property
Private registered land comes next. There are two differences in private lands. There is freehold tenure first. In this instance, the owner has sole control over the land. Ownership has no time restrictions. When land is developed, no developments are placed on the owner. The owner may also lease or subdivide the land.
There is also customary land (customary estate). This property is managed by a Traditional Authority (T/A). According to customary laws, this land is granted to a person or persons. Only citizens are granted access to customary land. No documented evidence is necessary.
