NATIONAL CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY COUNCIL (NCIC)

The National Construction Industry Council was established in 1996 by Act of Parliament that is
the National Construction Industry Act of 1996. It regulates, develops and promotes the
Construction Industry of Malawi. It also provides training and project registration. NCIC also
ensures that all professionals and all stakeholders in the construction industry are operating in
accordance with the governing rules stipulated in the NCI Act as well as the Code of Ethics
(2009). This includes registration of firms with the Council and commitment to professionalism
and ethical conduct (NCIC, 2022).
Practice of Consulting Firms in the Construction Industry of Malawi
According to Part V of Malawi Architects and Quantity Surveyors Act of 2014, under Section 35
of Disciplinary provisions, it is stated that unlawful practice of quantity surveyors in considered
to be an offense. Any person who performs in Malawi while unregistered is considered to be
guilty of an offense and subjects himself to a fine of MWK5, 000.00 and to a term of one year
imprisonment. The quantity surveyor becomes entitled to registration if he has obtained his
qualifications from an approved institution like Malawi University of Business and Applied
Sciences (MUBAS), approved by the Surveyors Institute of Malawi (SIM) which the Board of
Architects and Quantity Surveyors (BOAQS) considers acceptable and has gained experience
through practical training from employment for at least two (2) years (Section 30). According to
the Sub-section 20.1 of the NCI Act of 1996, it is also compulsory for all consultants, among
other professionals, to register with the National Construction Industry Council (NCIC) before
performing for any construction work in Malawi. Performance without registration with the
Council is also considered an act of offence and subjected to pay fine charges or imprisonment.
The National Construction Industry Council is a governing body and not a professional body.
However, it plays a role in ensuring that Quantity Surveying consultants are operating within the
required ethical standards and under the governing rules. The Council has the authority to
register according to area of specialization or profession in the Construction Industry of Malawi
and keep the registration for categories of persons at the council. Quantity Surveyors among
other professionals are engaged in the construction industry. The Council authorizes consultants
to register and practice within their respective profession or expertise to avoid conflict of
interest, thus consulting firms are proscribed from registering as other professions i.e. contractor
(Khonje, 2021). Under the registration procedure, all application are submitted to the Council at
least 14 days before Registration Committee meeting. The applications are assessed by the
Registration Committee and gives recommendations before the NCIC Board makes a decision.
The Board conducts meeting in each quarter of the year and after the meeting held by the
Registration Committee (NCIC, 2022).
The following are the benefits of obtaining license and registering with the Council:
 It eliminates the liability for conducting an illegal activity in Malawi.
 It eliminates the fear in developer from engaging themselves with incapacitated and
incompetent persons.