K5bn housing project for people with albinism drags

Almost halfway through the prescribed duration of the K5 billion housing project for people with albinism, government has registered only two percent progress, casting doubts on its bid to meet the deadline.

The project, which was initiated in 2021, seeks to construct 965 houses to enhance security of people with albinism after years of being subjected to brutal killings and attacks.

However, according to the 2023 Public Sector Investment Programme (PSIP) released as part of the 2023/24 National Budget, only 18 houses have been constructed.

“The overall project implementation is currently at 2 percent; 28 houses were earmarked for the 2021/22 financial year and 11 in the 2022/23 financial year. Eighteen houses have been completed,” the PSIP reads in part.

The document further reveals that K378 million has been spent on the project designed to end in 2026.

The Ministry of Lands is tasked with the project and it blames the slow progress on delayed procurement process and late payment to the contractors.

“The procurement process was done at district councils of which every council procured contractors at their own time which derailed the implementation of the project. For instance, some councils started construction of their houses in January 2022.

“Late payment to some contractors has delayed project implementation (and) adverse weather conditions affecting mobility of construction material to some sites,” reads the document.

Meanwhile, government has gestured that the total project cost could rise due the products’ price increments.

“Price fluctuation of building materials due to inflation has raised the cost of the house,” reads the PSIP.

Association of People with Albinism in Malawi president Young Muhamba said they could only comment after they are furnished with a new project update.

He said when they engaged the Ministry of Lands they were told the number of completed houses was 22.

“So, there could be some changes. Let me get the statistics first,” said Muhamba.

However, Federation of People with Disabilities in Malawi acting executive director Simon Munde described the progress as disappointing.

“We strongly feel that this kind of progress is quite frustrating and disappointing. We raised this issue about construction of houses a long time ago.

“We feel that the project is going to help in intensifying the security of people with albinism,” he said.

Munde warned that delays to implement the project put lives at risk although there has been a reduction in reported attacks.

“We might be thinking that the attacks have come to an end, but you may bear witness that towards the end of last year, there were some attacks against  people with albinism,” he said.

In her contribution to the 2023/24 National Budget, Zomba Malosa legislator Grace Kwelepete reported that her constituency has not benefited from the project.

She said: “I would like to register to the Minister of Finance that the whole of Zomba District has not had any houses constructed for people with albinism.

“I would like to ask if it is possible this year when they are trying to allocate some money, they should think of Zomba, especially Zomba Malosa.”

According to the National Statistical Office’s 2018 Population and Housing Survey, there are 134 000 people with albinism in the country representing 0.8 percent of the total population.

According to Amnesty International, the number of reported crimes against people with albinism in Malawi is estimated at approximately 170, including more than 20 murders since November 2014.