Malawi Housing Corp tenants want govt to surrender houses

Malawi Housing Corporation (MHC) tenants have asked the government to honour long dwelling tenants by giving them the  houses for free.

This was said at a meeting on Thursday minister of Lands and Housing Atupele Muluzi held with them in Blantyre.

Representative of the tenants Mervin Kaumphawi said there was need for the government to consider those who had stayed in the houses for over 20 years to give them the houses for free or sell them at the lowest price the government can think of.

“Government should think of selling the houses to tenants who have been in the houses for 20, 30, 40 even 50 years. This is not a new arrangement as this happens in Zambia, Tanzania or South Africa,” he said.

Kaumphawi bemoaned that the houses are never rehabilitated, the are filthy, roofs half blown up saying they were not fit for human dwelling in urban areas.

Muluzi did not immmediately respond to the request but said the government will look into the issues raised critically.

He said the public sector reform programme will greatly benefit the Malawi Housing Corporation tenants.

Muluzi said the reform programme also provides for the construction of new houses.

The minister also said the government is in the process of amending the MHC Act to enable tge state run housing company deliver.

MHC general manager Rose Mkandawire said her organisation is building new houses in Ngumbe, Blantyre and Area 18 in Lilongwe.

She said over all, the housing corporation is expected to construct 2500 houses to ease demand for houses.

The MHC boss said currently, there are 140000 people on the waiting list for the only 6500 houses available. She said the corporation needs at least 21000 houses a year to meet the growing demand for houses mostly in urban areas.