“There is a lack of total commitment from the political sphere, because our national development plans are tied to the political tenure, of a seating government, mostly the policies are not well funded, if we look at the National Housing Policy of 1996 the only thing that came out was the Presidential Housing Initiative.,” she added.
Mtonga observed that sometimes the policy implementation is hindered by the politicization of the boards, thereby affecting the ultimate resolve of the matter.
“It’s one thing having a policy document and it’s to have resources dedicated both human and financial resource, mostly sometimes the people that steer the policies are politically aligned and detached from development,” she stated.
Most of the objectives of the policy are engulfed by political interests, leading to the delay and failure of implementation. The consequences strike far deeper, as most of the policies cannot keep pace with the fast rising development.
“Development was engulfed by politicians, men and women that are chosen to lead these boards, these should be men and women of integrity, we should have boards that are air tight, these should be men and women that are without political affiliation,” Dr. Mtonga urged the government.
Traditional leader’s addition to Survey Board to curb boundary dispute McBright Africa Real Estate Executive Director Sonny Mwila Mulenga has described the parliamentary passed addition of traditional leaders on the Survey Control Board as one of the most politically and economically significant provisions.
For decades, Zambia’s dual land tenure system has acted as a silent drag on rural economic growth, with billions of Kwacha locked away as “dead capital” due to persistent friction between formal titles and traditional boundaries. The introduction of the Land Survey (Amendment) Bill No. 12 of 2026 aims to directly confront this structural bottleneck by formally integrating the House of Chiefs into the Survey Control Board.
Speaking in an interview with Zambian Business Times, Mwila noted that customary land accounts for the majority of Zambia’s land area and that many land disputes originate within customary tenure systems, making the participation of chiefs essential in shaping effective land administration policies.
“For many years, survey regulation has largely operated within a technical framework that did not adequately reflect the realities of customary land ownership. The inclusion of the House of Chiefs is a recognition that customary land cannot be separated from national land governance,” he said.
Mulenga explained that the amendment seeks to transform the Survey Control Board from a narrowly focused professional regulator into a broader land-governance institution by incorporating representatives from various sectors including planners, estate agents, lawyers, civil society organizations and traditional leaders.
He said chiefs would bring valuable local knowledge and practical understanding of community land boundaries, customary tenure arrangements.
According to Mulenga, the move could facilitate more orderly conversion of customary land into titled land, improve dispute resolution mechanisms and support large-scale land registration programmes.
“Giving chiefs a seat at the table means they become part of the regulatory process rather than merely being consulted when disputes arise. That creates an opportunity for more coordinated and sustainable land governance,” he said.
He further observed that Zambia’s land challenges stem from the interaction between state land, customary land, planning systems and informal settlements, which have historically operated in isolation from one another.
Mulenga said bringing traditional leaders into the Board aligns Zambia with international land-governance approaches that emphasise inclusive and participatory administration systems. However, he cautioned that while broader representation is welcome, the Board must maintain technical competence and efficiency in carrying out its regulatory functions.
“The success of this reform will depend on striking the right balance between inclusivity and technical rigour. Representation must strengthen decision-making, not slow it down,” he said.
The Land Survey (Amendment) Bill proposes a 12-member Board comprising representatives from government institutions, professional bodies, civil society, the private sector and the House of Chiefs. Mulenga believes that if im mented effectively, the reform could strengthen public confidence in land administration while reducing conflicts that continue to affect land ownership and investment across the country.
Article by Samuel Mutale
