LILONGE – In an address at the Housing Symposium in Lilongwe, President Lazarus Chakwera announced the launch of “Project 250” – an initiative to construct 250,000 new homes across the country by 2030.
Acknowledging the longstanding issue of housing shortages in Malawi, President Chakwera expressed his determination to finally tackle this pressing problem.
“Mdziko muno, mwakhala muli vuto losowa manyumba okhala kwa nthawi yayitali, ndipo chaka ndi chaka aMalawi amangonamizidwa kuti vutoli likonzedwa. Ndiye ine chilowere m’boma ndakhala ndikuonetsetsa kuti vuto lakuperewera kwa manyumba okhala mdziko muno lizikonzedwa ndithu tsiku ndi tsiku”, anatero mukuyankhula kwawo a President adziko lino.
He criticized his predecessor who had made empty promises of affordable housing, only to leave behind foundation stones and intentions to put further foundation stones.
“Ena mpaka kufika powauza aMalawi kuti awapatsa aMalawi malata otchipa, koma ngakhala anali ndimwayi opanga zimenezi kwa zaka zingapo, lero ukati uyende mmidzimu suupeza chizindikiro choti aMalawi anapezako malata otchipa oti afolere manyumba awo kuti zofolera ndi udzu zikhale mbiri yakale”, he said.
The president was quick to point out that the vision which was aspired by his predecessor was not a bad one per se, emphasizing that the foolhardy was on it lack of implementation: “Sikuti masomphenyawo anali oyipa ayi, chifukwa vuto losowa manyumba amalata ndiye ndilalikulu, koma vuto ndi loti atsogoleri amene analonjeza zimeneziwo zinawakanika kuchita”.
The President narrated the extent of the housing challenge and unfolded the interventions that his administration has done in the four years’ period and what he intends to achieve by the time he will be leaving office in 2030 after an apparent re-election expected next year:
“AMalawi anzanga, wina asazakunamizeni. Vuto lakuperewera kwa manyumba mdziko muno ndilalikulu zedi, ndipo likukhuza aMalawi osiyanasiyana. Ndiye titaliunikira vutoli mofatsa, tinaona kuti ngati tiri serious pofuna kuzathana ndi vuto limeneli, tiyenera kuyambira manyumba a anthu amene amagwira ntchito m’nthambi zachitetezo, monga asirikali, apolisi, ndi oyang’anira ndende zathu, chifukwa tonse sitingagone mwa mtendere pamene anthu amene amatiteteza alibe ndipokhala pomwe mmadela omwe tikukhalawo. Ndi chifukwa chake ndinayambitsa pulojekti yomanga manyumba 10,000 a anthu ogwira m’nthambi zachitetezo”.
The President revealed that he firstly targeted building a combined total of 10,000 houses for security agencies including the police, the military, prisons officers and immigration officers, reporting that over 1,000 residential houses have already been completed, with a further 4,000 currently under construction while 500 more are awaiting final approvals. The Malawi leader expressed confidence that by 2030, all 250,000 houses will be delivered.
Recognizing the need for a strong institutional framework to support the project, President Chakwera also announced the construction of a new office block for the Malawi Housing Corporation, the government agency tasked with overseeing the housing initiatives.
The President praised the support and collaboration of various international and local partners, including organizations such as Habitat for Humanity, Malawi Red Cross, and the country’s leading academic institutions. He emphasized that this project is not the government’s alone, but a collective effort to address Malawi’s housing crisis.
He also commended former Presidents Dr. Joyce Banda and Dr. Bakili Muluzi for working hand-in hand with his administration in delivering houses to vulnerable Malawians during Cyclone Freddy tragedy. The two former presidents accepted Chakwera appointments as ambassadors of goodwill for Malawi to source help outside the country to help those that were displaced by the natural disaster:
“Nditengereponso mwayi kuthokoza olemekezeka a Dr. Bakili Muluzi ndi a Dr. Joyce Banda, atsogoleri akale omwe ndi akazembe abwino a nyumba ndi mabwenzi onse chifukwa cha thandizo la nyumba lomwe linaperekedwa ndimaiko ena pamene dziko lino linakanthidwa moopsa ndi namondwe wa Freddy. Mzimu umenewu oika chitukuko patsogolo ndale pambuyo ndi mzimu wabwino komanso othandiza,” he said.
Concluding his speech, President Chakwera urged Malawians to embrace a spirit of progress and development, leaving behind any divisive rhetoric or political agendas. He expressed his belief that with unity and determination, Malawi can achieve its ambitious goals and provide decent, affordable housing for all its citizens:
“Ndiye olo ena atsogoze ndale zonyoza ndizogendana, ifeyo aMalawi tiyeni tisazitengere ku mtima. Ifeyo mfundo yathu ikhale yomweyi basi: chitukuko patsogolo, ndale pambuyo. Ndiye pamene ena akukuitanani mmisonkhano ya ndale zonyozana, ifeyo tizikuitanani ku misonkhano yokhazikitsa zitukuko,” he said.
