Blantyre building owners ignore council directive

Most buildings in Malawi’s commercial city of Blantyre still stands defiantly despite a red star symbol mark, a sign that the owners are defying the council order to pull them down.

President Peter Mutharika inaugurated the red star operation in Blantyre that would see some buildings being pulled down completely and others being renovated in a bid to make the city beautiful and meet international standards.

However, two months before the deadline of March, there is little or nothing at all that has been down to demolish or renovate the buildings as ordered by the Blantyre City council.

The scene in Limbe remains the same, an expensive posh vehicle parked before a dilapidated shop and tin like police houses dotting some parts of the city.

Officials from Blantyre City Assembly said resources are being mobilised to start the demolition of houses earmarked for the exercise come March.

They said residents were given enough time to improve their buildings.