“Mzimba Rising: Cradle of Ngoni Royalty — Where Kings, Timber, and Agriculture Thrive.”
“UTM’s bold vision for Mzimba blends mega agriculture, commercial forestry, livestock development, and manufacturing to position Mzimba as Malawi’s agro-industrial frontier.”
— Dr. Dalitso Kabambe, UTM Presidential Candidate 2025
Context & Challenges
Mzimba is Malawi’s largest district, rich in history, culture, land, and water resources. It holds enormous potential in agriculture, forestry, livestock, and tourism. But despite its size and cultural pride, it remains economically disconnected, with poor rural infrastructure, limited agro-processing, youth outmigration, and slow institutional development.
Mzimba Boma lacks the feel and infrastructure of a modern district capital. Rural hubs like Jenda, Euthini, Ekwendeni, and Edingeni remain under-serviced. The long-promised Mbelwa University has stalled, and many traditional economic activities—like coffee, timber, and livestock—have yet to be transformed into wealth-generating sectors.
UTM’s Vision
Context & Challenges
Mzimba’s vast arable lands remain underutilized. Farmers rely on rainfall, with limited irrigation and poor mechanization. Many young people are leaving farming due to lack of market access, capital, and value-addition opportunities.
UTM Pledges
💰 Investment: MWK 300 Billion
👷 Jobs: 15,000 direct, 8,000 indirect
📦 Output: 600,000 MT
📈 Impact: Food security, rural wealth, export earnings
Restoring Chikangawa. Building Green Wealth. Empowering Communities.
Context & Challenges
Mzimba was once home to Chikangawa Forest, one of the largest man-made forests in Africa—a vital ecological asset and economic backbone that once powered Malawi’s timber industry, safeguarded water catchments, and anchored the national furniture and construction sectors.
But today, Chikangawa is unrecognizable—heavily degraded due to unchecked deforestation, illegal logging, and decades of political abuse and mismanagement. Its collapse has disrupted rainfall patterns, dried up streams, and left once-thriving carpentry and milling communities jobless.
Bamboo—once promoted as a sustainable alternative—is underdeveloped, despite its potential for eco-wood, furniture, energy, and climate-friendly income. Energy poverty continues to fuel widespread charcoal production, deepening land degradation and biodiversity loss.
In addition, climate shocks such as dry spells, floods, and erratic weather are rising in frequency and intensity—undermining agriculture, displacing communities, and exposing how urgently Mzimba needs a bold green transition.
UTM envisions Mzimba as Malawi’s green engine—where forests are restored, timber is processed locally, and rural communities benefit from a climate-resilient and export-ready economy.
We will:
Context & Challenges
Mzimba has a long tradition of cattle ownership, but livestock systems remain informal, with limited veterinary services, milk markets, or meat processing. Youth are disconnected from livestock wealth.
UTM Pledges
Investment: MWK 70 Billion
Jobs: 6,000
Impact: Improved nutrition, rural income, export-quality meat & dairy
From Hora to Viphya: Telling Our Stories, Creating Jobs, and Opening Mzimba to the World
Context & Challenges
Mzimba’s rich Ngoni heritage, stunning highlands, and natural landscapes make it an ideal destination for cultural and eco-tourism. Sites like Hora Mountain hold deep historical and spiritual significance, yet remain undeveloped and under-promoted.
There is a lack of eco-lodges, reliable road access, and tourism services, while existing accommodations are in poor condition. Activities such as hiking, biking, horse riding, and cultural trails are untapped opportunities for domestic and international tourists.
Despite the tourism potential of the Viphya Plateau, Ekwendeni, Embangweni, and macadamia/coffee-producing zones, Mzimba has no formal tourism value chain or promotion agency. This leaves local artisans, storytellers, guides, and performers without income, and valuable traditions at risk of fading.
From Hora to Viphya: Telling Our Stories, Creating Jobs, and Opening Mzimba to the World
Context & Challenges
Mzimba’s rich Ngoni heritage, stunning highlands, and natural landscapes make it an ideal destination for cultural and eco-tourism. Sites like Hora Mountain hold deep historical and spiritual significance, yet remain undeveloped and under-promoted.
There is a lack of eco-lodges, reliable road access, and tourism services, while existing accommodations are in poor condition. Activities such as hiking, biking, horse riding, and cultural trails are untapped opportunities for domestic and international tourists.
Despite the tourism potential of the Viphya Plateau, Ekwendeni, Embangweni, and macadamia/coffee-producing zones, Mzimba has no formal tourism value chain or promotion agency. This leaves local artisans, storytellers, guides, and performers without income, and valuable traditions at risk of fading.
UTM will elevate Mzimba as Malawi’s premier cultural and green adventure destination by combining Ngoni history, highland scenery, and community-based tourism experiences.
We will:
Investment, Jobs & Impact
Investment: MWK 35 Billion
Tourist Target: 100,000 annually
Revenue Potential: MWK 25 Billion/year
Jobs Created: 5,000 (guides, lodge workers, artisans, events staff)
Key Impacts:
“Mzimba will rise as a destination of kings, trails, and traditions—where heritage meets adventure, and tourism becomes a local business.”
— Dr. Dalitso Kabambe
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Context & Challenges
Many towns in Mzimba operate without proper market stalls, drainage, or electricity. Informal vending is dominant, and local trade lacks order and hygiene.
UTM Pledges
Investment: MWK 40 Billion
Jobs: 4,000
Impact: Local revenue, cleaner towns, vendor empowerment
Context & Challenges
Mzimba’s housing is scattered and mostly self-built. Teachers, health workers, and farm staff struggle to find affordable accommodation, leading to poor service delivery and low rural retention.
UTM Pledges
Investment: MWK 120 Billion
Jobs: 6,000
Impact: Staff retention, rural dignity, labor stability
Context & Challenges
Mzimba District Hospital is overwhelmed and lacks specialist services. Vocational and higher education opportunities are scarce. Mbelwa University remains a stalled dream.
UTM Pledges
Investment: MWK 45 Billion
Jobs: 3,000
Output: 5,000 skilled youth annually
Context & Challenges
Mzimba has poor road quality, especially between key farming and trading areas. Access to electricity and the internet is still limited in rural villages.
UTM Pledges
Investment: MWK 150 Billion
Jobs: 7,000
Impact: Economic connectivity, digital access, rural transformation
Transforming Mzuzu into an Economic Engine for Northern Malawi
Context & Challenges
Although Mzuzu is the third-largest city in Malawi and the recognized Capital of the North, it has not received the infrastructure, investment, or policy focus it deserves. Despite hosting a major public university, a regional hospital, and critical road networks, Mzuzu suffers from poor urban planning, limited industrial activity, and underdeveloped trade infrastructure.
The city lacks an efficient public transit system, a centralized industrial zone, and the digital backbone necessary for 21st-century service delivery. Mzuzu’s potential as a trade gateway to Karonga, Chitipa, Zambia, and Tanzania is also undermined by outdated logistics facilities, traffic congestion, and informal settlements.
Transforming Mzuzu into an Economic Engine for Northern Malawi
Context & Challenges
Although Mzuzu is the third-largest city in Malawi and the recognized Capital of the North, it has not received the infrastructure, investment, or policy focus it deserves. Despite hosting a major public university, a regional hospital, and critical road networks, Mzuzu suffers from poor urban planning, limited industrial activity, and underdeveloped trade infrastructure.
The city lacks an efficient public transit system, a centralized industrial zone, and the digital backbone necessary for 21st-century service delivery. Mzuzu’s potential as a trade gateway to Karonga, Chitipa, Zambia, and Tanzania is also undermined by outdated logistics facilities, traffic congestion, and informal settlements.
UTM will transform Mzuzu into a Northern Economic Powerhouse—with modern industry, reliable infrastructure, a digitized government system, and a regional innovation ecosystem.
We will:
Investment, Jobs & Impact
Investment: MWK 200 Billion
Jobs Created: 12,000+
Key Impact Areas:
“Mzuzu is not just a city—it is the heartbeat of the North. Under UTM, it will become a modern capital of commerce, innovation, and inclusive prosperity.”
— Dr. Dalitso Kabambe
Context & Challenges
Past development in Mzimba has been fragmented. Funding has been poorly coordinated and lacked local oversight.
UTM Pledges
Conduct annual citizen scorecards
| Sector | Investment (MWK) | Jobs Created | Impact / Output |
| Mega Farms & Agro-Processing | MWK 300 Billion | 23,000 | 600,000 MT; agro-exports and rural industrialization |
| Livestock Development | MWK 70 Billion | 6,000 | Dairy and meat exports; food security and income |
| Tourism & Culture | MWK 35 Billion | 5,000 | 100,000 tourists/year; MWK 25B revenue |
| Urban Markets | MWK 40 Billion | 4,000 | Formalized vendors; clean commerce; tax growth |
| Social Housing | MWK 120 Billion | 6,000 | 6,000 eco-homes; improved retention of skilled workers |
| Health, Education & University | MWK 45 Billion | 3,000 | Mbelwa University; 5,000 skilled youth annually |
| Infrastructure & Connectivity | MWK 150 Billion | 7,000 | Rural electrification, trade roads, broadband |
| Environment & Forest Economy | MWK 110 Billion | 9,500 | Reforestation, bamboo industry, carpentry, green exports |
“Mzimba Rising: Cradle of Ngoni Royalty — Where Kings, Timber, and Agriculture Thrive.”
Vote UTM. Vote Dr. Dalitso Kabambe.
“Jobs. Markets. Services. Delivered.”
Legacy of SKC. Vision of DK. Power to the People.
