By Jones Gadama
In President Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika’s DPP-led government, the appointment of young, visionary and results-driven leaders has become one of the defining hallmarks of a new era of service, and at the very forefront of this transformation stands the Honourable Chimwemwe Mazabuka Chipungu, the youthful and remarkably dynamic Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development.
Since assuming office, Chipungu has moved with purpose, energy and an uncommon clarity of vision that has left both stakeholders and ordinary Malawians describing him as one of the most humble yet firm ministers the country has seen in recent years.
Within the Ministry itself, senior officials have openly remarked that “the Ministry has never had a best minister like him,” pointing to his hands-on approach, accessibility and unwavering commitment to reform.
Chipungu entered the Ministry with a bold declaration that there was “a new sheriff in town.”
He immediately declared war on illegal land dealers and land grabbers, announcing a nationwide verification exercise of all plots to establish ownership and legality.
His message was clear and fearless: political affiliation will offer no protection to those who acquired public land irregularly.
That decisive stance has restored public confidence in a sector long dogged by allegations of corruption.
Beyond enforcement, the young minister has prioritized delivery. He is championing a historic national program to construct 10,000 houses for security personnel — 4,000 for the Malawi Defence Force, 4,000 for the Malawi Police Service, 1,000 for Immigration and 1,000 for Prisons — and has further announced plans for an additional 12,500 houses to address the growing demand among officers in uniform.
When progress stalled due to funding gaps, Chipungu went to Parliament to assure the nation that government remains committed and that work will resume once resources are secured, a mark of accountability rare in public office.
His compassion was equally evident in Nkhata Bay, where families displaced from MDF land at Kasasile were facing uncertainty.
Chipungu coordinated with the Ministries of Defence and Justice to secure temporary accommodation and identify land for permanent resettlement, turning a crisis into a structured solution.
In the cities, Chipungu is reimagining how Malawians live. He has championed urban upgrading, spotlighting a successful slum-upgrading partnership with Habitat for Humanity Malawi and Lilongwe City Council that has transformed an informal settlement into a more dignified community.
Drawing lessons from Morocco, he is advocating for housing that integrates green spaces, proper planning and environmental beauty — pushing for “decent, clean, green and attractive communities” for current and future generations.
A technocrat at heart, Chipungu has driven digitalization and land records reform to enhance security of records, reduce delays and curb fraud.
He has challenged professionals in the Surveyors Institute of Malawi to uphold ethics, reminding them that good governance means professionalism, transparency and accountability.
He has also called on young surveyors to embrace GIS, remote sensing and smart city planning as tools to build the Malawi we envision.
On policy, the Minister is leading the review of the National Urban Policy and the National Housing Policy 2025–2030, while advancing the development of 8 secondary cities as growth points to support balanced development under Malawi 2063.
His embrace of decentralization has given local authorities greater capacity, exemplified by the handover of the 16.2km Kanjeza access roads worth K6.2 billion to Blantyre City Council for better maintenance.
Chipungu’s leadership has not gone unnoticed beyond our borders.
He represented Malawi at a high-level UN meeting in New York, where the country is co-chairing the midterm review of the New Urban Agenda alongside Poland.
There he articulated Malawi’s commitment to inclusive, resilient and sustainable urbanization, arguing for greater investment in affordable housing and climate finance.
What makes Chipungu stand out is not just the volume of work, but the spirit behind it. Colleagues describe him as humble, approachable and deeply committed. He listens, he consults, and he delivers.
This publication has been carrying out thorough appraisals of Cabinet ministers in President Mutharika’s DPP-led government.
After careful scrutiny of records, public impact and policy direction, we are pleased to award Hon. Chimwemwe Mazabuka Chipungu the full scale of 20 points.
He is rated a five-star performer — a young minister full of potential who truly knows what he is doing.
President Mutharika deserves commendation for appointing energetic, capable and patriotic young leaders like Chipungu who are fulfilling the President’s vision of a prosperous, orderly and dignified Malawi.
With leaders of this caliber, the DPP government continues to demonstrate that experience and youthful zeal, when combined, can deliver real transformation.
