Implementing Land Information Management System In Malawi: Opportunities and Challenges

Land records are very dynamic since people-to-land relationships change regularly and must be kept up to date. Real-time changes in land rights must be captured in a database, or the land system will become obsolete and be replaced by an informal system. Often, the changes are made using existing manual systems. Manual-based land administration systems create numerous issues, including time consumption and fraud. To address the issues associated with manual processes, governments are now turning paperless and embracing e-service delivery in an effort to increase efficiency, provide better services, and save costs. While various articles have discussed the advantages of automating land administration services, little is known about the potential opportunities and challenges of implementing a Land Information Management System (LIMS) for Malawi. The paper aims to present the ongoing implementation of LIMS in Malawi. Specifically, the paper looks at the opportunities and challenges for the implementation of LIMS in Malawi. This study employed a qualitative research method based on the case study technique. Data were gathered through observation, document analysis, and interviews. The interviewers were selected purposefully. Triangulation of data was employed to reduce bias, which is frequent in studies of this nature. Data were collected between May and August 2024. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the data. The study found that LIMS will reduce transport costs that users incur as they will be afforded an opportunity to pay online using their mobile wallet or visa card. In addition, there will be improvement in collection of land related revenue due to quick and timely issuance of invoices. The study also found that LIMS faces high costs of training and maintenance that may impact on its sustainability. However, because the study only looked at the participants' opinion of the topic, more investigation using empirical data from a quantitative method would be needed to assess how well the system performs once it is fully operational.