Page 11 - 2020 SoM Journal Vol 73 No 1 FINAL_Neat

The Conflagration at ‘The Old Residency’ 3

Recognised as a uniquely important Malawian heritage asset, as well as
a valuable tourism draw, the building was listed and protected by the Malawi
Government under the Antiquities Act.
On 27 December 2019 the Nyasa Times reported: It appears that the
property which Vice-President Justin Malewezi acquired in about 1994, and
which had gone bankrupt and into receivership, was sold to some [members of the
Asian community]. It is alleged the new owners had applied for a permit to
refurbish and modernise the hotel building but had been properly refused
permission because it was a listed building.
The watchman reported that the building was unoccupied on the day of
th
the conflagration, Sunday December 20 , and that he first noticed the fire at about
1.00pm. The fire brigade, located a short distance away, is reported to have arrived
some one-and-a-half hours later and had to leave to replenish its water supplies.
Speculation in the media as to the cause of the fire include arson,
spontaneous combustion and an electrical fault.
It can only be hoped that the root cause of the conflagration is established
beyond reasonable doubt and that appropriate action is taken, and stringent
measures adopted, to ensure that the remainder of Malawi’s fast diminishing stock
of heritage properties cannot be put at the future risk of meeting similar fates.

Hotel Masangola ablaze.