Lilongwe, MALAWI – Lilongwe City Council has partnered with the Pakistan Welfare Association (PWA) in Malawi to rehabilitate Lilongwe Old Town Hall, which will remain council property and be handed over to the council for public use upon completion of the works, Nthanda Times has established.
The development comes amid social media allegations that the historic hall has been given to business people of Asian origin to turn it into a Sana supermarket.
But reacting to the development, the council, through a statement, has dismissed the claims, clarifying that the rehabilitation is being undertaken by the Pakistan Association in Malawi as part of its corporate social responsibility (CSR), and not as a Sana business venture.
“Lilongwe City Council has noted with concern misleading information circulating on social media alleging that the Lilongwe Town Hall is being renovated by SANA to be used as a shop. The Council wishes to clarify to the general public as follows: The Lilongwe Town Hall is NOT being renovated by SANA for use as a shop.
“The Town Hall, being a historic antiquity and heritage of the city, is being rehabilitated and renovated back to its original state by the Pakistan Association in Malawi as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR),” reads the statement.
The council acknowledged that the association is headed by the director and owner of Sana but emphasised that the supermarket is not involved in the renovation as a business venture, assuring residents that the facility would remain public property after the rehabilitation.
The council has meanwhile urged the public to disregard what it described as false allegations, assuring residents that the integrity and public ownership of the Town Hall remained intact.
The clarification follows a letter dated August 24, 2026, from the council signed by the council’s Chief Executive Officer, Clement Stambuli to the PWA, which Nthanda Times has seen in which the council authorized the association to proceed with maintenance, and facelift works in line with the submitted scope of works.
The council welcomed the association’s commitment to maintaining and improving the historic landmark, while stipulating that proposed alterations beyond the approved scope, particularly those affecting the building’s structure, external appearance, use or architectural character, would require the council’s approval.
In his reaction, PWA chairperson Rauf Chaudry said the association was undertaking the renovation to improve the hall for public use.
“We just want to revamp Lilongwe Town Hall to improve public use. Its one way of giving back to the community,” Chaudry said.
The council’s statement provides an official clarification on the building’s future ownership and use, confirming that the hall will remain a council property and return to the council for public use once the renovation is complete.