Residents of the country’s four cities of Blantyre, Lilongwe, Zomba and Mzuzu have expressed frustrations over worsening noise pollution in residential areas amid apparent lack of action from city authorities.

The residents expressed their frustrations in random interviews and appealed to city councils to address the matter.

Raised concern:
White

Malawi’s Public Health Act Chapter 3 describes noise pollution as a nuisance.

Debate on noise pollution was reignited last month after a video clip went viral on various social media platforms showing gender activist and lawyer Seodi White confronting members of a pentecostal church in her neighbourhood in Sunnyside, Blantyre.

The bone of contention was noise emanating from an ongoing church service in the low density residential area.

Noise pollution also contravenes the Environmental Management Act which states that every person has a right to a clean and healthy environment (noise control).

Section 4 (1) of the Act states that the duty to enhance and safeguard the environment includes the duty to inform relevant authorities of any activities or phenomena that may affect the environment significantly.

In an interview on Saturday, Ephraim Banda of Katoto in Mzuzu said noise pollution has been a huge disturbance  to the residents while Janet Makuluni from Area 25 in Lilongwe said residents have on numerous occasions been lodging complaints with the council but to no avail.

On his part, Emmanuel Maliro from Machinjiri Township in Blantyre wondered why councils allow people to build certain structures and set up institutions in residential areas or close to other institutions such as hospitals when such actions worsen noise pollution.

His sentiments were also echoed by Margaret Banda from Zomba who further said there is need for councils to fully enforce the law to deal with noise pollution.

While acknowledging receiving complaints from residents on noise pollution, three out of the four city councils we talked to said they are implementing numerous strategies to deal with the challenge.

Zomba City Council Mayor Davie Maunde said in an interview that the council is taking a number of initiatives in handling noise pollution within the city.

He said the council is closing non-complying premises and issuing prohibition notices to premises that are infringing on the right of others to a clean and healthy environment.

Maunde said: “We

 are sensitising residents to safeguarding their right to a clean, healthy environment by reporting premises that are violating that right.

“We are also inspecting bars and bottle stores to assess their compliance to laws and regulations, including Section 4 of the Environmental Management Act.”

Mzuzu City Council spokesperson MacDonald Gondwe said in a separate interview that aside from churches and entertainment places, the other cause of worry among residents is mobile van operators.

He said: “The observation is correct and as a council, we have been receiving tips and complaints regarding noise pollution. Aside from churches and entertainment centres, another cause of worry are mobile van operators who make a lot of noise.

“This is not in good taste and as a council, we are taking necessary steps to avert the anomaly.”

Gondwe said the council together with the Malawi Police Service two weeks ago interacted with bar owners to remind them of their responsibilities regarding noise pollution and find ways of controlling the same.

He said the council plans to have similar sessions with entertainment joints that are contributing to noise pollution both in residential areas and other places.

Blantyre City Council spokesperson Deborah Luka on Tuesday referred the matter to the council’s legal officer Mphatso Matandika who asked for more time to consult. But subsequent follow-ups proved futile.

On the other hand, Lilongwe City Council Mayor Richard Banda said council officials are now on the ground enforcing the law to ensure noise pollution is controlled in residential areas.

“There are some property developers who are going into residential areas and building churches, bars and other entertainment joints so we are issuing notices to these developers to vacate these residential areas,” he said.

In recent years, Lilongwe and Blantyre city councils have closed business premises following concerns raised by residents.

But at one point, Blantyre was taken to court for closing businesses, notably events gardens in residential areas that were causing noise pollution. The business owners challenged Blantyre City Council on the basis that it was not residents that moved the courts on the matter.

Industries, especially those close to residential areas, are also said to be contributing to noise pollution.

A 2019 study titled ‘Assessment of noise levels in heavy and light industries in Blantyre City’ published in the Malawi Journal of Science and Technology showed that noise levels in most industries are above the recommended limit level of 85 decibels (dBA).

The study conducted by Isaac Chirwa, Justice Stanley Mlatho, Casper Kamunda and Chomora Mikeka also showed that only 21 percent of the industries complied with the national regulations.

“Lack of noise data, awareness, commitment and enforcement by the regulatory authorities were observed to be contributing factors to the failure to implement induced noise hearing loss control programmes,” reads part of the study.

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