In the earlier years, Lilongwe City maintained a sense of openness and connection. Annual Cleanest House competitions by Lilongwe City Council encouraged residents to keep their surroundings neat, visible and welcoming.
A modest house in Biwi Township, marked The Tsakas, repeatedly won this award. Then, most homes were unfenced or enclosed by low wire mesh, allowing for clear sightlines and unimpeded access for public service providers.
Not anymore.
Walking along Lilongwe and urban areas nowadays feels like walking in a maze with high walls on both sides. The open views of gardens, trees and skies have vanished as imposing brick fences become the norm.
These walls, often made of fired bricks, represent a shift in how we live and relate to one another.
Urban security has been on a decline since the dawn of democracy in 1993.
Since homeowners began constructing brick fences as a security measure, what begun as sporadic practices has became a standard. Today, almost every new home in cities and towns is enclosed.
While fences offer peace of mind, their environmental cost is severe.
Every brick cured by firewood represents a loss of trees from waning forests.
The thousands of walls built annually consume truckloads of firewood, accelerating deforestation Malawi can ill afford.
The environmental effects also include loss of biodiversity, worsened soil erosion, reduced water retention in catchment areas and weakened riverbanks prone to flooding amid climate change.
During my stint at Lilongwe Water Board (LWB), I saw firsthand how the loss of Dzalanyama Forest Reserve lowered Kamuzu Dam 1 levels, forcing costly dam raising works.
Ordinary citizens pay the ultimate price, for every tree cut for burning bricks carries a hidden cost for all.
This is particularly troubling as the bricks are often used for non-essential structures. Unlike houses which provide shelter, security walls consume vital resources without adding living space or public utility.
The materials and resources used for brick fencing could be redirected toward additional houses or public buildings. Imagine how many additional houses could have been constructed with all those bricks on our wall fences!
The high brick fences also distort the feel and function of our neighbourhoods.
The towering barriers block sightlines between neighbours, undermining natural surveillance for deterring or detecting crime. Theft, vandalism and even emergencies go unnoticed behind these walls.
Ironically, the so-called security walls can also provide cover for illicit activities once someone is inside.
Service providers also bear the brunt.
During my LWB stint, fenced properties routinely delayed meter reading, leak detection and illegal connection investigations. Many clandestine water connections were hidden behind walls.
The same applies to power utilities, where illegal connections thrive out of sight.
Firefighting teams, sewerage operators and waste collection crews also experience delays when gates are locked or access is obstructed.
These inefficiencies increase operational costs and slow response times, affecting the quality of services.
However, the proliferation of brick walls could be a vote of no confidence in State- security agencies. When residents feel vulnerable, they invest in private measures, regardless of the personal or collective costs.
Addressing this root cause is essential. Improved community policing, better street lighting and faster emergency services would reduce the perceived need for fortress-like homes.
As part of urban policy reform, councils could set fence height limits and promote affordable, eco-friendly options. The grill and concrete fences at Capital Hill and other public buildings offer a cheaper, durable and sustainable model.
Bamboo fencing or reinforced hedges also offer affordable options for boosting security while reducing environmental damage.
Our cities are still young, so we have a chance to decide whether their future will be defined by prison-like walls or shared space, greenery and beauty.
Brick fences, though individually small, collectively shape not only our streetscapes but also our forests and climate.
