National Construction Industry Council (NCIC) has launched a platform which will be a means of brainstorming ways of developing the construction industry, an initiative aimed at aimed at facilitating effective regulation of the sector.

Transport and Public Works Minister, Ralph Jooma, said there was a misunderstanding among players on their roles and responsibilities, hence the move. The first construction sector joint consultative group meeting was held in Lilongwe on Monday under the theme ‘Excellence through Collaboration in Construction’. “Sometimes you may think this was supposed to be done by another stakeholder when it is to be done by you; so, this will iron out those misunderstandings,” Jooma said.

In January this year, the NCIC urged people in Kasungu to stop using burnt bricks. Instead, they were advised to use cement bricks or blocks. Kasungu’s district officer Henry Kagulo confirmed that people were destroying trees through brick burning. Meanwhile, the government announced a tree planting season in December 2018, with various business entities taking part in tree planting exercises. Lack of trees will result into bad weather that may affect Malawi’s upcoming and established businesses.