APM revives ‘red star’ campaign in Malawi: Poor buildings to be demolished
Malawi President Arthur Peter Mutharika on Monday announced the revival of the red star campaign when he toured dilapidated buildings in Blantyre City.
Mutharika told the gathering at Old Town Hall that it was sad that 50 years after independence, some buildings in the city leave a lot to be desired.
Said Mutharika: “Some of these building were even there before the colonialist left and we are still using them today. I find this to be unacceptable.”
“I joined the City Council this morning to inspect some buildings in this city which have been dilapidated as one way of reviving the re-development of the two towns Blantyre and Limbe, through the Red Star Campaign,” he said.
The President said there was need to put in place policies and use of zoning laws to direct people on how and where city buildings are to be built.
“As government, we are also making sure that we put all policies and guidelines in place as far as construction of buildings in towns in concerned and I would like enforcement agents to make sure that these are followed by all of us,” said Mutharika.
He added; “It is my hope that all concerned parties will cooperate with the City Council so that we have a new face for our towns. Let us make our towns beautiful.”
Mutharika asked owners of dilapidated buildings to either rehabilitate or demolish them as they pose danger to the people working in such environments and making the city look unattractive.
“As investors, let us play our part in making sure that we are operating in acceptable environments as per the city requirements. Let us take this development positively so we can attract more investors to our cities.” he said.
He said with the project to extend the Masauko Chipembere Highway, there was need for buildings that are modern and secure to be alongside the road and has asked the public to change their mindset when it comes to making the cities clean.
Mutharika said he hopes for unity between Blantyre City Council and stakeholders on the implementation of the Keep Blantyre Clean and Green campaign and that the red star campaign should be viewed as part of the initiative.
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Bravo my president . This will be one of the greatest things that can transform our country if all of us malawians pull together in that direction.Ife a Malawi takhala tiri kusilira maiko aanzathu kumati kwakuti ndi kwakuti ndikwabwino yet, we have been building village like structures in town . City building regulations have been ignored by the citizens and the regulations inforcers have been sitting idle doing nothing about it. People have belt structures which are below standard in the city , Building within the roads parameter is a common thing. e.g Just after the chileka lunzu circle going… Read more »
It.s not just a point of painting. The standard of buildings being built in the city leaves a lot to be desired. How can we be constructing one or zero story buildings in the city in 2015? These are like tobacco barns! Lilongwe is worse in that aspect. Are there city planners in Lilongwe? If we kept late Bingu’s directive of minimum seven stories Lilongwe, Blantyre and Mzuzu would be transformed. And roads – ngati mopita mbewa. Timiseu tating’ono ting’ono negotiating buildings!!! Wake up Malawi, let’s not just authorise any building plan after receiving ziphuphu. Corrupt town planners damage the… Read more »
What about Wenela Bus station, Lilongwe bus station. Malo amenewa womvetsa chisoni. Ati ku Malawi kuli ma Highway. Funso ndilakuti ma highway amenewa ali kuti? Ati Chipembere high chani? Zongonamizana basi. Ku Lilongwe ati kuli Paul Kagame high chani, way? Zoputsisana basi. Ndayenda Malawi, Blantyre, kuona manyumba Chilomoni, Ndirande, Mbayani, Makhetha ndi malo ambiri ayi Malawi tiri ku mbuyo kwabiri ndi chitukuko. Matauni onse ku Malawi ayenera kuphwasulidwa kuyambiranso. Komanso system yomanga misika yithe. Nkhani ya mavenda yithe. Kaunjikanso boma lithetse. Ku gulitsa magalimoto a Dubai boma lithetse. Komanso zoti pulezident ka museu ka 10 km basi kukatsegula zisiyidwe. Malawi… Read more »
A good one Your Excellency but there are a lot of issues to be sorted out in our cities and towns.We are in 2015 but things have never been worse in Our Councils and City Assemblies like they are now.There is inadequate refuse collection. There is no real accountability and patriotism and where the City/town rates and market fees goes nobody knows as the whole system has got no checks.
As long as the whole local govt system has no checks and balances things will be even worse than now READ my LIPS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Mr. President, It was a good initiative to go in the town and observe the conditions of the properties and filth loaded town. Yes of course it is a good move to give a boost to Mr. Mayor and his allies to start harassing and harvest a fortune from the initiation. Now tell me you did not even comment about the containers and vendors occupying the roads and lands belonging to private owners who cant even speak about vacating to even BCC cause the same BCC who invited you about the red stars doesn’t bother at all to force the… Read more »
Blame it on Bakili Muluzi and UDF.
Ife a MCP tafuna tiyamikire maganizo amenewo popeza ndiye chitukuko. Tithokoze a President pozindikira ubwino wa operation Red Star which others despised MCP for when it was introduced 24 years ago. If preceeding govts continued with the programme bwezi our cities were improved by now.
Good move!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Speaking is cheap,we are waiting for doing,make sure u do wat u say ore else say wat u do,all former governments sounded the same and did not.
@Nambeya you have a point my brother. What really strikes me most is that some of these so called bottle stores and also Video Shows, with their Chichewa translations, do actually put their loud speakers outside directing their noise to neighbors and passers by. Please help Malawi get rid off this noise pollution.