Debate ensues over council staff relocation

Debate has ensued over the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development order compelling council workers to reside within their duty stations. While welcoming the directive as a move to strengthen accountability, stakeholders and governance experts have warned that it ignores long-standing housing and infrastructure gaps in many districts. In the directive dated February 3 2026, the ministry’s Principal Secretary the Reverend Moses Chimphepo instructed council staff living outside their duty stations to immediately relocate, citing concerns that long-distance commuting contributes to absenteeism, late reporting for duty and misuse of council resources.

“Such practices undermine efficiency, accountability and the quality of public service delivery at the local council level,” reads part of the letter addressed to district commissioners. Chimphepo further directed the commissioners to enforce the order in accordance with applicable public service regulations. But stakeholders and analysts observed that districts such as Rumphi, Nkhata Bay, Mzimba, Salima, Dowa, Thyolo, Chikwawa, Mulanje and Chiradzulu have for years had staff commuting from nearby cities.

In an interview yesterday, Malawi Association of Local Government Authorities executive director Hadrod Mkandawire acknowledged that some social service delivery staff report late for work or knock off earlier due to long commuting distances but cautioned that the directive must be implemented with flexibility. He said exceptions should be considered in councils where suitable and habitable housing is unavailable. “This, further calls for local authorities to seriously consider venturing into public private partnerships with land developers and real estate investors to address the shortages of decent and affordable housing across the country,” said Mkandawire.

[paywall]

Civil Servants Trade Union president Lameck Magawa said the union agrees that officers should reside in their duty stations, but noted that the practice of living outside districts is largely driven by lack of housing and basic social services. Governance and decentralisation analyst Winston Kenyatta Khamula said keeping staff closer to their workstations improves accountability and responsiveness. However, Nyika Institute executive director Moses Mkandawire called for a phased approach of the directive, warning that immediate enforcement could disrupt families and worsen staff morale in districts with critical infrastructure gaps.

The directive comes after Minister of Local Government and Rural Development Ben Phiri raised concerns last month during a visit to Mulanje where he noted that most council employees commute from Blantyre. The ministry’s spokesperson Chimwemwe Njoloma yesterday acknowledged the housing challenges in some districts, but said most officers commute because council resources such as fuel are at their disposal.

[/paywall]