Clan gets land title after 8yrs

MORE than eight years after a 2011 court decision, Mumeng’s Sambio Village Dangolai clan in Morobe has received ownership of a land.
The clan members were presented a notice of transfer of ownership to the old mining lease portion DSC 937, Mabollading and Bangabek land from custodian Patrick Bendumb in Lesilekalu hamlet early this month.
The expired lease (on DSC 937) was originally customary land leased-out to Mack Leahy of Highlands Product Pty, acting as Zenag company in early 1950s on payment of A$800.00 (K1,888.22).
Leahy acquired the lease through payment from customary landlord Gevan Yusatev.
The lease along Watut river in Sambio village was then transferred to former Bulolo MP late Mathew Bendumb, registered as Mombis Mining, on Sept 13, 1988.
The Mining Act of 1992 came into force that rendered old leases such as this to be renewed.
It was forfeited to customary landlord Yusatev and his surviving family and descendants.
Clan director Ringwaku Gewasa said the lease expired in 2001. “So we went to the Mineral Resources Authority (MRA) office in Wau in 2011 to confirm that the lease had expired.
“We went to court against Bendumb, and the court awarded the land to us on Sept 15, 2011. But the title was not released to us until today.
“The land was customarily ours after early missionaries gathered us here. “We now have the court decision, title, and we want to assure villagers that we will now peacefully develop the land accordingly.
Gewasa said they were now happy to be take the lead to develop the land.
The custodian of the expired lease, Patrick, is the eldest son of the late former Bulolo MP.