Blantyre tragedy sparks calls for building safety overhaul

The collapse of a building wall in Blantyre that claimed three lives and injured 21, has triggered renewed calls for sweeping reforms to Malawi’s building safety regime.

The issue dominated proceedings in the Malawi National Assembly on Monday with Members of Parliament warning that weak enforcement, delayed court cases and poor urban planning are putting more lives at risk.

The discussion started after Deputy Leader of the House Shadric Namalomba sought the Speaker’s permission for Minister of Local Government Ben Phiri to brief lawmakers on the tragedy before Parliament proceeded with questions for oral reply.

Presenting the government’s position, Phiri said authorities were saddened by the loss of lives and were working with other ministries to establish the circumstances surrounding the collapse while ensuring that safety standards are enforced.

“Our priority is the safety of the people when it comes to public infrastructure… I would like to invite all of us as Malawians, and indeed the private sector and business people, to consider people’s lives first, safety first. Otherwise, we’ll keep on losing lives,” Phiri said.

The minister argued that efforts to deal with unsafe structures have been undermined by prolonged court injunctions, pointing to the long-running legal dispute over the implementation of the “Red Star” building safety system. He said the matter has remained unresolved for about 15 years despite concerns over public safety.

Speaker of Parliament Sameer Suleman described the deaths as avoidable and pledged Parliament’s support for reforms aimed at strengthening building safety, saying the House was ready to work with government if changes to existing laws become necessary.

“If we need to change some of the laws, that’s our job, but the safety of our people should be a priority,” Suleman said.

Dedza Kasina MP Joshua Malango urged the Ministry of Justice and the Judiciary to address court injunctions that have remained pending for years, arguing that delayed decisions are frustrating development projects and preventing authorities from acting on matters affecting public safety.

Nkhotakota Central legislator Sylvester Ayuba James said the problem extends beyond court cases, blaming years of poor land management and weak enforcement of planning regulations. He warned that construction on riverbanks, wetlands and other unsuitable areas is creating conditions for future disasters.

“While we point fingers at the court for delaying to decide on the injunctions… we should also point fingers at ourselves as politicians. We haven’t managed this country well,” James told the House.

The Speaker later urged lawmakers to pursue solutions collectively rather than assigning blame, while Namalomba moved to curtail the debate after informing the House that the Minister of Public Works would return with a ministerial statement outlining government measures to improve construction safety.

Monday’s debate transformed the Blantyre tragedy from an isolated accident into a national conversation on public safety, with lawmakers agreeing that preventing future loss of life will require stronger enforcement of building standards, faster resolution of public interest cases and closer cooperation between Parliament, government and the Judiciary.