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The Republican Progressive Party (RPP) leader, Leslie Chikuse, has opposed government plans to expand the powers of the Registrar of Lands, including the authority to cancel land titles and oversee the appeals process under the proposed Lands Amendment Bill.
Under the proposed Lands Amendment Bill, government seeks to expand the powers of the Registrar of Lands, including the authority to cancel land titles and oversee the appeals process.
Chikuse in a statement issued in Lusaka on Tuesday stated that the party recognized government’s intention to streamline land administration and address the growing issue of fraudulently acquired land titles.
He said the party also agreed that safeguarding the integrity of land records and protecting legitimate landowners was critical but that vesting excessive authority in a single office risked creating a power imbalance.
“Without proper checks and balances, such a move could lead to misuse of power and erode public confidence in land governance,” Chikuse said.
He stated that to address land-related fraud effectively while preserving due process, there was need for the full implementation of Article 233 of the Constitution, which provided for the creation of a Lands Tribunal within the Lands Commission.
Chikuse said the tribunal should be the appropriate, independent body mandated to resolve land disputes and appeals.
“Its composition must reflect professional diversity—bringing together experts in land law, human rights, and economics—to ensure decisions are fair, balanced, and informed by multiple perspectives,” he emphasized.
Additionally, the tribunal’s functions should be embedded within the broader land governance system to guarantee transparency and institutional accountability, he argued.
Chikuse also called for the accelerated issuance of land titles to indigenous Zambians who have fulfilled all statutory obligations, including the payment of service charges.
He noted that the continued delays in processing legitimate land claims deepened economic inequality, disenfranchise communities, and stifle development efforts.
“On the matter of ministerial oversight in land appeals, RPP emphasizes the need to shield land administration from political interference.
“Allowing the Minister to intervene risks politicizing sensitive land issues and weakening the independence of institutions,” Chikuse stated.
He added that all appeals and title cancellations should be handled by legally empowered, impartial bodies such as the Lands Tribunal.
Chikuse called for a balanced and constitutional approach to land reform—one that upholds the rule of law, ensures expert oversight, and strengthens institutions.
“We remain firmly committed to supporting reforms that promote justice, transparency, and inclusive development for all Zambians,” he assured.
Similary, Nkana Member of Parliament, Binwell Mpundu, echoed Chikuse’s sentiments.
Mpundu wondered why the UPND wanted to modify the land law to give power to an appointee of the President to cancel people’s titles deeds.
“So they now want the President, ministers and their cadres to be going to the ministry of lands to be intimidating the Commissioner of Lands to help them grab people’s lands especially their political opponents. That thinking can only be from criminals,” he alleged.
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