By Aliko Munde

Chitipa, February 15, Mana: President Dr Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera says he plans to see Chitipa become a major corridor for trade between Malawi, Tanzania, and Zambia and home to a major city that facilitates that tri-nation trade.

Dr Chakwera made remarks on Friday during the State of National Address titled: Taking our Development Forward to Continue the progress we have delivered.

Dr Chakwera said that his government wants to stay focused on completing the developments implemented in the district.

“Because of these developments that we have either delivered or are making progress in Chitipa, we want to stay focused on completing them going forward, especially I plan to see Chitipa become a major corridor for trade between Malawi, Tanzania, and Zambia, and to see Chitipa become home to a major city that facilitates that tri-nation trade,” Dr. Chakwera explained.

“We have made great strides in advancing Chitipa’s Human Capital Development in the past four years. Specifically, we have collaborated with five communities in Chitipa to build each a community day secondary school, which can now be found at Chuba, Namapasa, Namasasa, Karopa, and Ngoya, which are in addition to the seven primary school blocks and 26 secondary school blocks we have built to improve enrolment figures in the district.

“So, to the 86,000 registered voters in Chitipa, I say this: Be ready to hear other parties this year offering to take Chitipa backward, but remember that the reason I am here is to continue taking your development forward,” he added.

Chairperson for Chitipa District Council, Councillor Ronald Kayira, thanked the Chakwera-led administration for initiating developmental projects in Chitipa, saying what he has stated in the SONA during the opening of the 2025-2026 budget session of Parliament is a true reflection of what is in the district.

Kayira said Mafinga and Marko irrigation schemes are in operation after K6.1 billion was invested adding that this is the right direction as a country to ensure that people have food and money.

“Like other districts, Chitipa has also benefited from these CDSSs. We have Chuba, Namapasa, Namasasa, Karopa but also Ngoya. I confirm that what is in the SONA gives a true reflection of the development delivered in Chitipa,” Kayira said.

Among other developments, the government has installed a communication tower at Mughese in Misuku.
Government has also brought electricity to 171 centers and connected 2,054 houses to electricity through the Malawi Rural Electrification Programme (MAREP 9) and the Malawi Electricity Access Project (MEAP) projects respectively.

Government has also installed home-solar facilities in 4,333 homes including extending free water connection to 89 houses and providing loans amounting to K2.6 billion disbursed to 4,477 beneficiaries who have started their business ventures.