Zomba city boundaries to be extended up to Songani: Minister Belekenyama tours old capital
Zomba City Council has asked government to extend city boundaries as one way of enhancing development activities in the city.
The call was made on Wednesday when Minister of Local Government and Rural Development Lingson Belekanyama had a talk with city secretariat and elected council members before visiting Zomba mini stadium currently under construction.
Mayor for the city Benson Bula said there is a need to extend city boundaries if the council is to attract investors for industrization.
“It is very sad to see the first capital city of our mother Malawi under developing like this because of lack of space for factories and other income generating activities,”he said.
The council proposes to extend the city to Songani in Zomba Malosa constituency and 7 miles
Once reinstated as a city in 2008 by former president late Bingu Wa Mutharika, Zomba has remained the same with old and dilapidated structures.
The council also would like to own Zomba State House where they proposed to run a lodge to increase revenue collection.
On dilapidated buildings, Zomba city council made an appeal to the minister that they should start demolishing all old buildings under Red Star campaign where the first target will be government buildings such as Zomba police station and Eastern region police headquarters offices.
In his remarks, the minister supported the ideas of having the city extended and owning the state lodge but advised to write his ministry for consideration.
He assured them that once the idea is passed, the city will develop very quickly like Mzuzu city.
After the talk with member of the council, Belekanyama inspected construction works of K4 billion Zomba mini stadium where he expressed concern on the delay of the work.
“Delay of any work increases the cost and also delays the benefits the project would bring to communities,” he added
He further promised to discuss with ministry of finance so that the project is fully funded.
According to the DEC Construction, the stadium is expected to be completed in December this year if government fund them.
The minister also inspected K933 million Songani market and Thondwe bus depot owned by Zomba district council.
Zomba city council has been accused of lack of proper planning for infrastructure development.
The old capital city will be admires once the desire to extend and bring factories is achieved.
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you cannot just extend the city to where you think without the agreement of the district council that is wishful thinking let it be known that you are talking this because you have seen decent house are being build outside your area of jurisdiction. zomba city should also know that this is the area where your sister council have invested a lot of resources like the new market being built at songani and are collecting a lot of revenues so my advice seat first on the table and talk with your sister council
Zomba is beautiful and with Chawe Inn and the plateau it can attract tourist. The town has old buildings even some private ones belonging to Asians. A council needs muwapatse anthuwa ultimatum kuti akonze or you demolish them. Good move people will invest easily same as Mzuzu has changed