By Brenda Kayo:
Malawi is one of the fastest urbanising countries in the world, with about 20 percent of its population now living in urban areas.
This was revealed in Lilongwe Tuesday, when Chief Secretary in the Office of the President and Cabinet Justin Saidi opened the 4th Session of the Malawi Urban Forum.
Saidi attributed the country’s rapid urban growth to increasing rural-to-urban migration, driven largely by globalisation and the search for better economic opportunities.
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“Globalisation has led to many people moving from rural to urban areas in search of better opportunities. This has resulted in challenges of accommodating the growing urban population,” he said.
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Lilongwe City Council Chief Executive Officer McCloud Kadammanja echoed Saidi’s sentiments, saying Lilongwe, as the administrative capital, was experiencing rapid urbanisation.
“People are moving to Lilongwe in search of economic opportunities and those in rural areas see the city as a place where they can explore new opportunities,” Kadammanja said.
To address challenges associated with urbanisation, Kadammanja said the council was working with partners, such as the Malawi Housing Corporation, to improve infrastructure and provide adequate housing for residents.
He said the council was also constructed waste transfer stations to enhance sanitation services in the city.
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The Malawi Urban Forum, which started on Tuesday and will run until Wednesday, has brought together stakeholders to discuss ways of strengthening local action for sustainable and resilient cities.
The forum is being held under the theme ‘Strengthen Local Action for Sustainable and Resilient Cities and Human Settlement: Accelerating the Implementation of MIP1 and Sustainable Development Goal 11’.
