For many Malawians, building a home is more than just a project—it’s a lifelong dream. But that dream is slipping further out of reach as the price of cement, a key building material, continues to skyrocket.
In the past week alone, prices have jumped from K26,000 to as high as K38,500 per bag in some shops around Lilongwe. What’s worse, the increases are happening so quickly that customers are being caught off guard, sometimes experiencing price hikes while standing in the shop.
“I couldn’t believe it,” says Alice Phiri, who is building a small house for her family. “Last week at Akshar we bought cement for K32,000. Yesterday, while I was still in the shop, it went up to K38,500. How do we manage this?”
For builders like Alice, each bag of cement represents another step toward shelter, security, and dignity. But with prices climbing almost daily, many are forced to halt construction, leaving half-built houses as monuments to frustration and economic hardship.
The constant price hikes have left many wondering what is driving the changes—and whether relief is in sight. For now, the dreams of countless families remain stacked like unfinished bricks, waiting for stability in the market.
/2025/08/03/dpp-promises-end-to-on-the-spot-traffic-fines
