Malawi Minister calls for public-private partnerships to address housing deficit

Chimwemwe Chipungu, Malawi’s Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, has emphasized the necessity of Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) to combat the country’s growing housing shortage. Speaking at a multi-stakeholder workshop in Lilongwe commemorating World Habitat Day and World Cities Day, Chipungu noted that rapid urbanization, currently growing at 5 percent annually, is driving a significant housing deficit.

The Minister urged financial institutions to develop innovative and accessible housing finance products to help Malawians afford construction and home ownership. He highlighted a recent Memorandum of Understanding between the Malawi Housing Corporation and FDH Bank as a key milestone intended to boost sector investment and create employment.

To address the demand, several large-scale projects are underway. The government aims to construct 135,000 housing units, while the Malawi Housing Corporation is embarking on the construction of 250,000 units. Additionally, FDH Bank has committed to constructing thousands of homes. Rex Chapota, National Director for Habitat for Humanity, confirmed that the organization is also investing significant resources into meeting housing needs, including disaster-resilient projects in areas like Mulanje District.