Lack of capacity among some contractors and consultants and a quest for cheap labour have been highlighted among contributing factors to poor workmanship in the construction industry.
This was the general view during the Malawi Institute of Architects (MIA)’s three-day annual general meeting held in Blantyre.
The general meeting ended on Friday.
Throughout the conversations, delegates to the meeting conceded that the country’s built environment had challenges that were affecting quality of output.
MIA President Steve Musopole said professionals should be at the forefront in promoting quality.
- Advertisement -
He called on architects and other experts in the construction sector to harness technology but without compromising human judgement on their work.
“Architects should be human-centric. But they are required to use technology in dealing with negative effects of climate change and ensuring quality,” he said.
Speaking during a panel discussion, Construction Industry Regulatory Authority Chief Executive Officer Gerald Khonje said quality infrastructure had no substitute.
He called for the involvement of experts in policy formulation to ensure safeguards.
- Advertisement -
- Advertisement -
“Professionals—including architects, engineers, quantity surveyors and planners— are very critical in shaping infrastructure in the country. So, construction [industry’s success] is heavily dependent on the competence of these professionals,” Khonje said.
Botswana Architects Association President Thandeka Palai called on local professionals to ensure that their work is eco-friendly for sustainability.
Speaking during the opening of the indaba earlier, Ministry of Transport and Public Works Principal Secretary for administration Fergus Gondwe urged architects to “think beyond immediate fixes and prioritise long-term solutions in their designs”.
The meeting was held under the theme ‘Architecture at A Crossroads: Resilient Construction in a Volatile Economic Environment’
