Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development Chimwemwe Chipungu has toured houses being constructed for families displaced by Cyclone Freddy at Nanchidwa in Mulanje District, as efforts to provide survivors with permanent shelter continue.
During the visit, Chipungu interacted with affected families and assessed progress on the construction of the Nanchidwa Model Village, which is transforming the area through the provision of decent housing.
The housing project is being implemented by Habitat for Humanity Malawi through the Ministry of Lands’ shelter cluster initiative, which committed to constructing 89 houses for families affected by the devastating cyclone in 2023.
So far, 70 houses have been completed, while construction of another 14 is underway.
The affected families spent time in displacement camps between 2023 and 2024 before efforts to secure land and provide permanent homes began.
The families reportedly pooled their resources to purchase land after facing challenges in accessing it through traditional leaders, with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) also providing financial assistance.
Chipungu’s visit also provided an opportunity to assess how a layout plan developed by the Ministry’s Department of Housing is guiding settlement development in the area.
The project uses different building technologies, including interlocking blocks, soil-stabilised blocks, cement blocks and bricks made from rice husks, to explore locally appropriate and affordable construction methods.
The minister also interacted with Global Village volunteers who are in Mulanje for Habitat for Humanity Malawi’s Women Build initiative.
In a show of support for volunteerism, Chipungu joined the construction team in laying bricks on one of the houses.
The visit forms part of Malawi’s joint commemoration of World Habitat Day and World Cities Day 2026, which focuses on sustainable human settlements and the need to ensure adequate housing for all.
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