Transfer of Hulhumale’ Municipal Services to Male’ City Council Faces Second Year of Delays

The transfer of municipal services in Hulhumale’, currently overseen by the Housing Development Corporation (HDC), to the Male’ City Council has faced prolonged delays, with the process now approaching its second year.

Discussions regarding the transfer initially began in early 2022, during the tenure of the current President, Dr Mohamed Muizzu, as Mayor of Male’ City. At the time, the council had resolved to propose taking over responsibility for Hulhumale’s municipal services from HDC.

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Following the change of administration, the interim government began efforts to bring all municipal services in Male’ and Villimale’ under the council’s management. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed on 4 January of the previous year, with the Ministry of Finance announcing that HDC would cease providing municipal services within one month.

Despite these measures, the transfer remains incomplete.

Mayor Adam Azim reiterated at a news conference that elected council members are best positioned to deliver effective municipal services, emphasising that such responsibilities should rest with the city council rather than appointed officials. He cited unresolved issues such as a garbage dump near the Hulhumale’ cemetery as examples of inefficiencies under HDC’s management.

Azim also alleged that HDC’s reluctance to complete the transfer stems from a lack of willingness to prioritise public service. He noted that the council had written to the corporation after Ali Zuhair was appointed as HDC’s Managing Director, but no response has been received.

HDC has not issued any public comments regarding the delay.