The Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development is promoting prototype housing designs that incorporate climate and disaster resilience to guide the construction of safer homes and reduce communities’ vulnerability to floods and other disasters.
Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Honourable Chimwemwe Chipungu, MP, said this on Tuesday during Malawi’s joint commemoration of World Habitat Day and World Cities Day at Nanchidwa Model Village in Mulanje.
Chipungu said rebuilding homes destroyed by disasters presented an opportunity to adopt improved construction practices that would protect communities against future risks. “Rebuilding these homes presents an opportunity not simply to restore what was lost, but to build back better,” he said, urging stakeholders to embrace appropriate construction standards and resilient building practices.
He said the Ministry’s prototype housing designs provided practical guidance for constructing safer and adequate homes, adding that housing solutions should also be affordable and responsive to people’s needs.
The Minister commended Habitat for Humanity Malawi and other stakeholders for supporting efforts to improve housing conditions for vulnerable households.
Habitat for Humanity Malawi has constructed 67 disaster-resilient houses at Nanchidwa Model Village, with another 17 under construction for families still living in camps after being displaced by Cyclone Freddy in March 2023.
Senior Chief Njemu commended the Ministry and Habitat for Humanity Malawi for providing decent houses and water to affected families, saying the interventions had restored hope and dignity to households that were left stranded after losing their homes.
Habitat for Humanity Malawi Country Director, Rex Chapota, said the organisation remained committed to working with the Ministry to improve livelihoods and expand access to decent, disaster-resilient housing for vulnerable communities.
Urban October is an annual global observance that provides an opportunity to reflect on sustainable urbanisation, adequate housing and the development of safe and resilient human settlements.
