Ex‑Mayor Chalamanda warns Malawi is ‘breaking rules with impunity’

Former Blantyre City Mayor Noel Chalamanda has delivered a blistering warning about Malawi’s “dangerous habit” of ignoring its own laws, accusing authorities of allowing chaos to spread across the country’s prime land while regulations gather dust. Appearing onTimes Exclusiveon Times Television, Chalamanda said Malawi is now trapped in a cycle where illegal construction flourishes, development plans are openly defied, and enforcement officers look the other way as buildings mushroom in places they simply shouldn’t be. He painted a grim picture of cities being reshaped not by planning experts but by rule‑breakers, political interference and sheer negligence.

Prime land, he said, is being swallowed by poorly built structures that violate zoning rules, safety standards and long‑established development plans — all while authorities “pretend not to see.” Chalamanda didn’t hold back. He said the country has reached a point where laws are treated as optional, and those tasked with enforcing them have become spectators. Regulations exist, he stressed, but implementation is so weak and inconsistent that the credibility of the entire system is now in question.

He pointed to cases where buildings have sprung up on land reserved for public use, where commercial structures have been erected without permits, and where construction has continued even after warnings from planning officials. The message, he said, is clear: “If you break the rules, nothing happens.” But Chalamanda saved some of his strongest criticism for government’s handling of underperforming officers. Instead of taking decisive action, he said, authorities simply transfer those who fail to do their jobs — a practice he described as both “lazy” and “dangerous.” According to Chalamanda, these transfers have become a convenient way of shifting problems rather than solving them.

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Officers who neglect their duties are quietly moved to new posts, where the same behaviour continues unchecked. “It’s a merry‑go‑round of failure,” he warned, arguing that the approach destroys public trust and undermines the professionalism needed to enforce development laws. His comments come at a time when Malawi’s cities are under immense pressure from rapid population growth, rising demand for housing and commercial space, and intensifying competition for land.

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