He painted a grim picture of cities being reshaped not by planning experts but by rule‑breakers, political interference and sheer negligence. Prime land, he said, is being swallowed by poorly built structures that violate zoning rules, safety standards and long‑established development plans — all while authorities “pretend not to see.” “It’s a merry‑go‑round of failure,” he warned, arguing that the approach destroys public trust and undermines the professionalism needed to enforce development laws. Urban planners say Malawi is building itself into a future crisis that will be expensive and difficult to fix. Development plans only matter if they are respected; regulations only work if they are enforced; and public officers only serve the public if they are held to account.