Poor construction incities worries Chilima

Vice-President Saulos Chilima has challenged architects to up their standards and resolve the poor construction of buildings that he says deface the country’s cities.

Speaking in Lilongwe yesterday when he presided over an ongoing annual general meeting (AGM) of the Malawi Institute of Architects, the Vice-President said the poor quality of buildings in cities reflect the standards of architecture in the country, as such architects must reflect and find answers to the problem.

Said Chilima: “The question you must ask as you deliberate on Malawi’s future is: How do we address the current status quo where our cities and towns continue to be defaced by poor building structures that tend to undermine the integrity of the architectural profession?”

The theme for the AGM is ‘Architects: Re-imagining Malawi’s Future’, which the Vice-President said resonates well with Pillar Number Three of Urbanisation, in the Malawi 2063 (MW2063), the country’s development blueprint which seeks to have Malawi turn into an upper middle income economy by 2063.

He said the creation of secondary cities falls under the Urbanisation Pillar, and for government to attain the goals in the ambitious programme, it requires support by competent professionals who can respond to the scope and specificities of the MW2063.

Malawi Institute of Architects president Khumbo Chirwa acknowledged the need to improve standards of architecture in the country, and assured that efforts were underway, citing review of the laws to strengthen the legal system.

“There will also be some sanitisation of the profession which is currently invaded by unqualified architects,” said Chirwa.

The meeting started on Tuesday and will finish today.

It has brought together professionals in the architecture realm while new architects were unveiled on Wednesday.