Delayed regulations stall full implementation of Malawi’s disaster risk law

Two years after the enactment of Malawi’s Disaster Risk Management (DRM) Act, stakeholders have raised alarm over persistent delays in finalizing the regulations necessary to operationalize the law, warning that the slow pace could undermine national efforts to reduce disaster risks and protect vulnerable communities.

This concern was at the heart of a high-level National Stakeholders’ Meeting on Climate and Disaster Risk Management, held on Friday at Mponela in Dowa District.

In an interview, Julius Ng’oma, National Coordinator for Civil Society Network on Climate Change (CISONECC), emphasized that while the DRM Act, passed in 2023, was a major legislative achievement, its potential is being hampered by the absence of finalized regulations.

“Two years down the line, if we don’t have these regulations completed, it defeats the purpose of having the law in place. Communities continue to suffer because we cannot fully implement the provisions of the Act without the necessary regulatory framework,” said Ng’oma.

Ng’oma also noted that although progress has been made on aspects such as the Disaster Risk Management Trust Fund and demarcation of high-risk areas, the regulations remain stuck at the Ministry of Justice.

He urged the government to expedite the process to ensure that the country is adequately prepared for future disasters.

Fedson Chikuse, Deputy Director for Disaster Preparedness at the Department of Disaster Management Affairs (DoDMA), acknowledged the concerns but said the Act is relatively new and emphasized the need for careful development of the regulations to avoid misinterpretation or misuse.

“We are going through the Act section by section, drafting regulations to guide its full operationalization. For example, in areas designated as unsafe for settlement, we need clear guidelines to enforce these provisions properly. That process takes time, but some parts of the law are already functional,” he said.

The meeting also highlighted strong calls for enhanced coordination between government ministries and development partners, improved public awareness of the DRM Act through targeted communication efforts, and an urgent, clearly defined timeline for finalizing and implementing the outstanding regulations.

The stakeholders argue that time is a luxury Malawi cannot afford, especially as the country faces increasingly severe and frequent climate-induced disasters such as floods, droughts, and cyclones.

The meeting brought together representatives from civil society, government, and development partners, and was conducted by CISONECC with support from Trocaire, CARE Malawi, DAI Global UK, and Oxfam Malawi.