Blantyre City Council warns encroachers to demolish their structures

Blantyre City Council (BCC) has warned illegal settlers around Soche, Bangwe, Ndirande and Mpingwe hills to demolish their structures within 60 days.

Illegal houses at the foot of Soche Mountain: Residents have been told to relocate

The warning comes barely a month after the Vice President Dr Saulos Chilima  ordered Blantyre City Council (BCC) to vacate an injunction obtained by people who encroached Soche Hill “with immediate effect” to reduce occurrence of accidents caused by floods.

Chilima ordered BCC to vacate the injunction when he visited flood prone areas in Soche and Ndirande townships in Blantyre following the onset of the rains.

BCC has since vacated the injunction.

According to a notice of enforcement exercise issued by BCC’s Chief Executive Officer, Alfred Chanza, the residents developed their structures without the approval the council and in contravention of the Forestry Act.

“You are hereby informed that the structures that you built on and around Soche, Bangwe, Ndirande and Mpingwe Hills were developed by you without the grant of development permission [from the council] and in contravention of the Forestry Act.

“You are required to demolish the structures within a period of 60 days from the date of this notice or such extended period as the Blantyre City Council may in writing allow,” Chanza indicated in the notice.

The CEO said the council would take necessary action in respect of the unauthorised development to all those who fail to comply with the notice within the prescribed period.

“Failure to comply with this [official] notice may cause the Council with all necessary workmen and other officers, to enter or authorize any other person to demolish the structures,” he warned.

During the by the vice president, BCC’s Deputy Director for Town Planning, Matthews Mwadzaangati indicated that the council was doing all it could to remove the injunction and hoped shortly the matter would be water under the bridge.

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Ephraim Ntande
Ephraim Ntande
6 years ago

If these are encrochers,why ESCOM&BWB supplied them with
electricty & water?respectively shouldn’t BCC to blame for lack of city planning?Blantyre city has not enough area for development if this for 2018 what about 2050? BCC Wake up

Chidothi
Chidothi
6 years ago

This is a good move but my worry is that the focus is to demolish structures belonging to poor Malawians. look what happened in Mbayani/Chemusa area. What about many structures within Blantyre CBD which are marked with red X. Why are they failing to demolish these? Is it because most of these are owned by Indians who have money to corrupt authorities? Use the same laws for all people living in Malawi irrespective of race and economic standing.

Don Thirampu
Don Thirampu
6 years ago

Nanga mMbayanimu what’s your plan. Such prime land encroached by slums. What a pity!!

Sawasawa
Sawasawa
6 years ago

That’s way to do it.. Blantyre city assembly.. don’t wait to action until disasters strikes.. these people whether they like it or not they have to move that’s dangerous place and also if occupied illegally . Congratulations CEO and your colleagues..

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