Zomba City Mayor to unveil development vision

Zomba City Mayor Christopher Jana says preparations are at an advanced stage for the unveiling of his development vision for the city, coming just days after Lilongwe City Mayor Peter Banda launched his own blueprint.

Speaking in an interview with The Malawi Guardian, Jana said the vision has already been formulated and only awaits its official launch and implementation.

“You cannot have leadership and a city without giving people a vision. As a leader, you need to show people the direction you are taking,” he said.

Jana described Zomba as a city that has managed to preserve its infrastructure, saying there are no cases of vandalism, with streetlights, road signs and other public facilities remaining intact.

He attributed this to the residents’ level of education and their respect and love for the city.

“The people of Zomba are willing to move forward and make the city even more beautiful. In terms of vandalism, that is something we hear happening in other cities,” he said.

The mayor also welcomed Lilongwe City Mayor Peter Banda’s vision, describing it as a positive initiative, but stressed that implementation is what matters most.

“You can have a vision, but if you fail to implement it, it becomes useless and a waste of time. I believe Lilongwe can achieve its goals because it has adequate resources. By working together with stakeholders and residents, they can succeed,” he added.

Speaking during the launch of the Lilongwe mayor’s vision, Minister of Local Government and Urban Development Ben Malunga Phiri called on citizens to support city authorities in their efforts to transform urban centres.

Phiri said the ministry will strengthen council performance, improve service delivery and promote transparency and accountability between councils and residents.

He also revealed that government plans to introduce metropolitan police services in all cities to protect public infrastructure from vandalism.

Officials say Zomba City Council is expected to announce the date for the launch of the mayor’s vision in the coming days.