Government has decried illegal management and fraudulent allocation of public land, and has put up measures to bring sanity on the same.

Minister of Lands Kezzie Kasambala Msukwa made the disclosure at a press briefing in Lilongwe today saying the gross mismanagement is being done by both the general public and some developers.

He, among others, pointed out encroachments on public and private land and fake title deeds prepared by fraudsters through forging of signatures of the former Commissioners for Lands.

“The ministry will, with immediate effect start referring suspicious documents to former Commissioners for Lands for verification and thereafter to the Attorney General for appropriate legal action” he said.

The minister also noted construction of buildings in areas like road and river reserves, and open spaces, where he said such developments are illegal.

He has since disclosed that local councils will be encouraged to stop or demolish any developments taking place in unplanned areas.