A RETURN TO A SHATTERED HOME
Extreme rains in Lilongwe are exposing the climate vulnerability of low-income urban communities
Mrs. Botha stood frozen at the entrance of her compound in Area 25, Sector 9 Lilongwe. Staring in disbelief. As she moved closer, reality sank in.
“When I got closer, I realised it was my house,”she recalls. Mrs. Botha, a vegetable vendor at her local market, had left home that morning as she always did to earn a living for her four children.
As she approached her home from the market, she noticed something unusual: her children were outside, surrounded by neighbours. There was dust in the air. Bricks scattered across the ground.
Then she saw it. It now dawned on her. Her house had collapsed. “I was at the market ordering vegetables for my business. “When I was coming back, I saw my children outside with people gathered in my compound. When I got closer, I realized it was my home,” she said.
Mrs. Botha is a widow. She built that house with years of small profits from selling vegetables. It was not just a structure, it was security, dignity, and protection for her children.
That home was now a pile of broken bricks.Mrs Botha’s story is not unique. There have been several instances of devastation across the city of Lilongwe from heavy rains, running water and strong winds.
Growing Climate Risks in Urban Communities
Between December 2025 and February 2026, persistent heavy rains led to the collapse of five houses in Dzenza Ward. Several families have been left vulnerable, some seeking temporary shelter with relatives while others remain exposed as cracks continue to appear in their structures and those of their neighbors.
Many houses in the area are constructed with limited resources and without climate-resilient foundations. When the soil becomes saturated after prolonged rainfall, foundations weaken and walls become unstable. The loss of vegetation and blocked drainage channels in some areas has also worsened the problem, increasing water runoff and flooding during heavy rains.
Community leaders in Area 25 say these incidents highlight the growing risks that climate change poses to low-income urban settlements.
Community Response and Local Action in Dzenza Ward
Following the recent house collapses, members of the Ward Disaster Risk Management Committee visited affected households to assess the damage and discuss possible support for the families.
The committee chairperson, Rodney Chilamba, stressed the importance of strengthening community awareness on safer construction practices and climate preparedness.
“We need to help communities understand how to build stronger structures and protect their homes from these changing weather conditions,” he said. The committee also plans to engage the Department of Disaster Management Affairs (DODMA) to explore possible training and support for communities in the ward.
Members of the Ward Disaster Risk Management Committee visited the affected households to assess the damage. The chairperson, Rodney Chilamba, highlighted the urgent need for community awareness on climate-resilient construction and pledged to engage the Department of Disaster Management Affairs (DODMA) to conduct training within the ward.
To help mitigate challenges such as these, Local leadership is also looking at environmental solutions. Ward Councillor Chisomo Sike Chilowe has pledged to support a tree-planting initiative to help reduce water runoff and improve environmental protection in the area. Community members also plan to work together to clear blocked drainage channels that contribute to flooding and damage to homes and roads.
For communities like Dzenza Ward, the collapse of these houses is more than an isolated incident. It is a reminder of how vulnerable many urban households are to extreme weather events.
For Mrs. Botha and her children, the journey of rebuilding has only just begun. But like many families facing similar challenges, she hopes that with community support and greater attention to climate resilience, the future will be safer.
Author
Bernard Kondowe is a Learning, Compliance and Quality Assurance Officer for CCODE. He also serves as a Learning, Monitoring and Evaluation (LME) personnel for the organization. In his role, he contributes to organizational learning, ensures compliance with standards, and supports quality assurance across programs.Bernard actively contributes organisational learning as a digital strategist by managing CCODE’s website and social media presence where he authors and co-authors news, blogs and social media posts helping communicate CCODE’s initiatives, impact, and community development efforts to a wider audience.
