Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development is yet to operationalise the Real Estate Management Council, with experts saying its absence is aiding unscrupulous operators to continue exploiting the real estate market.
The Real Estate Management Act of 2024 established the council in January 2025 to protect consumers by regulating practitioners and enforcing professional standards.
Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development Chimwemwe Chipungu said in an interview on Friday that the government is still sorting out underlying issues before the council becomes operational.
“We will effect it as we are trying to tie-up some loose ends,” he said.
In a written response, the ministry’s spokesperson Fostina Mkandawire said the operationalisation of council was supposed to take place in July or mid-August subject to finalising administrative processes.
She said: “The council can only commence its statutory functions after it has been formally gazetted and inaugurated.
“The ministry is working to complete the remaining administrative processes and expects the council to become operational subject to the completion of the gazetting process.”
Real estate consultant Prince Machika said the absence of council has the potential to provide a fertile ground for unscrupulous operators to continue exploiting the real estate market due to chronic shortage of urban housing.
“As I am speaking, I do not have a valid licence to practice my profession because the council, which is mandated to issue licenses to industry players is yet to start its work,” he said.
Machika said the long-term solution lies in expanding affordable housing.
