Government stops Chaudhry shopping mall in Lilongwe Area 10

Construction of a shopping mall in Lilongwe’s Area 10 has been abruptly halted after the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development issued a stop notice, ruling that the site encroaches on a reserved area.

The notice, numbered 2026-08-103, orders developer Chaundhry Associates to immediately cease all construction work on the plot.

According to the Commissioner for Physical Planning, the land in question forms part of the catchment for the Area 10 dam, making it unsuitable for the development of a shopping complex.

The notice further states that, under the 2030 Land Use Plan for Lilongwe City, the plot is reserved and designated strictly for recreation and conservation purposes – ruling out commercial development of any kind on the site.

Chaundhry Associates has been advised that, should the company wish to challenge the decision, it may lodge an appeal with the Physical Planning Council within 30 days of the notice being served.

The move is likely to raise fresh questions over planning compliance in Lilongwe, as the city continues to grapple with rapid development pressures amid efforts to protect environmentally sensitive land such as dam catchment areas from encroachment.