Speaking to Zodiak Online on Friday, Phalombe District Housing Officer, Fackson Chidzalo, said despite raising awareness on the availability of the guidelines, people are not asking for the guidelines.

Chidzalo said the council through the department of public works has safer house construction guidelines in place which require communities to utilize them when constructing.

“It is unfortunate that people in Phalombe do not ask for the guidelines on how they can construct resilient houses despite raising awareness on the availability of the guidelines,” said Chidzalo.

He has since appealed to communities in the district to seek expertise on how they can construct disaster resilient houses.

Meanwhile, a humanitarian organization, Habitat for Humanity Malawi, is equipping artisans on how they can construct safer houses.

Resource Development and Partnership Coordinator for Habitat for Humanity Malawi, Donald Manda, said “we are optimistic that the skills will help communities to construct disaster resilient houses since the artisans are drawn from the same communities the organization is constructing the houses," said Manda.

A total of 540 artisans from Phalombe and Zomba are expected to be equipped with skills on how they can construct houses that will withstand to floods and strong wind.