Government has confirmed significant delays in the construction of 10,000 houses for Malawi Police Service and the Malawi Defence Force (MDF), citing rising construction costs and late payments to contractors as the main setbacks.

Minister of Lands, Jappie Mhango, told Parliament yesterday that although progress has slowed, government remains committed to completing the project.

“We acknowledge the delays, but I want to assure this House that government has not abandoned the project,” Mhango said. “The Treasury is reviewing the financial requirements so that construction can resume at full scale.”

Mhango was responding to concerns raised by Malawi Congress Party (MCP) legislator for Mzimba South, Emmanuel Chambulanyina Jere, who warned that security officers are becoming increasingly frustrated.

“Our security personnel are frustrated. This project was meant to improve their housing conditions, but progress has been painfully slow,” Jere said.

Launched in April 2019, the project was designed to deliver 10,000 staff houses over several years, with an initial target of about 1,250 units annually. 

The houses were earmarked for the Police, MDF, Immigration Department and Malawi Prison Service.

However, only a fraction of the planned units has been completed. Contractors are reported to have scaled down work after facing delayed payments and rising prices of cement, steel and other materials.

Parliament has since asked the Ministry of Lands and the Treasury to present a detailed progress report outlining completed units, outstanding works, funding gaps and the new completion schedule.