MHC urged to improve service delivery
Government has advised Malawi Housing Corporation (MHC) to utilise the reform process by developing strategies that will enable the corporation improve on its service delivery.
Minister of lands, housing and urban development Atupele Muluzi was speaking on Monday during a familiarization tour at the corporation’s headquarters in Blantyre.
He noted that MHC was failing to meet the country’s housing demands due to financial constraints, saying this could be averted through implementation of reforms.
“I am very pleased to hear that the corporation has come up with a service charter which is driving the reform process.”
“We will be monitoring these reforms to make sure whatever is contained in the charter is for the smooth running of operations at the corporation and for the benefit of the public out there,” said Muluzi.
According to a study by the UN Habitat in 2007, Malawi is required to be constructing 21 000 houses every year for government to meet housing demands.
Muluzi said even though the onus to achieve the required figures could not be left to MHC alone, reforms could enable the corporation make decisions that will help raise funds for various housing projects.
Chief Executive Officer for MHC, Wezi Mkandawire, said the corporation needed to make changes to the 1964 MHC Act, which she said is outdated and not in line with the current financial situation.
“There is need for MHC to raise rentals significantly so that we are able to generate sufficient income to meet our operational expenditure but our hands are tied by these policies,” she said.
