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CHIKWAWA

“Chikwawa Rising: From the Valley of Sugar to a Future of Prosperity.”

“UTM will transform Chikwawa’s sugar belt, fertile plains, and resilient people into engines of agribusiness, energy, and climate-smart growth.”

— Dr. Dalitso Kabambe, UTM Presidential Candidate 2025

Vision for Chikwawa

Chikwawa is a district shaped by its extremes — blessed with vast sugar estates, livestock potential, and the mighty Shire River, yet plagued by seasonal floods, poor roads, and limited public infrastructure. It holds immense potential in commercial farming, livestock, energy, and border trade, but poverty remains high due to historical underinvestment and climate shocks.

UTM envisions Chikwawa as a southern trade and agro-industrial powerhouse, anchored in irrigated mega farms, a revitalized livestock economy, youth-driven entrepreneurship, and resilient infrastructure. Through smart investment and a MK500 Billion District Development Fund, Chikwawa will rise from survival to surplus.

Core Vision:

  • Leverage the Shire River for irrigation, energy, and logistics.
  • Scale up mega farms and livestock to drive rural income and food security.
  • Build a climate-resilient district economy with smart infrastructure.
  • Empower youth and SMEs through inclusive growth and value chains.
  • Establish the MK500 Billion Chikwawa District Development Fund (CDF) for delivery.

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Mega Farms & Agricultural Transformation

Context & Challenges:
Chikwawa has fertile land and an existing sugar economy, but most smallholder farmers rely on rain-fed subsistence. Floods, input shortages, and market access remain key barriers. Yet with the Shire River flowing year-round, the district has untapped irrigation and export potential.

UTM Pledges:

  • Develop 12,000 hectares of mega farms across Bereu, Nchalo, and Mitole.
  • Cultivate:
    • Sugarcane, sweet potatoes, groundnuts
    • Cotton, cassava, vegetables
  • Expand Shire Valley Irrigation System to support smallholders and co-ops.
  • Establish agro-processing plants:
    • Cotton ginneries, cassava flour mills, oil pressing units.
  • Link rural farms to Nchalo and Bangula markets via improved roads and rail.

Investment: MWK 140 Billion
Jobs: 8,000
Output: 300,000 MT annually
Impact: Climate-resilient agriculture, rural income surge, food security

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Livestock & Animal Husbandry

Context & Challenges:
Chikwawa’s dry valleys and traditional grazing culture support large herds, yet disease, drought, and informal trade limit productivity. Veterinary services and feed access are lacking.

UTM Pledges:

  • Scale up breeding and production of:
    • Beef and dairy cattle, goats, pigs, chickens, guinea fowl
  • Build 4 livestock hubs in Chapananga, Maseya, Nchalo, and Mpangeni.
  • Establish:
    • Vet training centre in Chikwawa Boma
    • Mini abattoirs and dairy chilling centres
  • Incentivize youth livestock co-ops with pasture schemes and input subsidies.

Investment: MWK 45 Billion
Jobs: 4,500
Output: Meat, milk, hides, and poultry
Impact: Protein availability, income diversification, youth agro-entrepreneurship

Tourism, Culture & Recreation

Context & Challenges:
Despite proximity to Lengwe National Park, Mwabvi Game Reserve, and the Lower Shire floodplains, Chikwawa lacks tourism infrastructure and promotion. Cultural festivals are also under-supported.

UTM Pledges:

  • Develop eco-tourism along Shire River with:
    • River cruises, birding platforms, and village cultural tours
  • Upgrade access and visitor infrastructure at:
    • Lengwe National Park (lodges, entry gate, signage)
    • Mwabvi Game Reserve (viewpoints, guided trails)
  • Establish a Chikwawa Heritage Centre showcasing Ngoni and Sena cultures.
  • Launch the annual “Lower Shire Festival” with traditional dances, cuisine, and crafts.

Investment: MWK 40 Billion
Jobs: 3,500
Visitors Target: 60,000/year
Revenue: MWK 12 Billion/year
Impact: Rural enterprise, heritage preservation, youth employment

Infrastructure & Smart Connectivity

Context & Challenges:
Chikwawa’s road network suffers from chronic washouts during rainy seasons. Digital access is limited outside town centres. The flood-prone geography needs climate-smart solutions.

UTM Pledges:

  • Upgrade:
    • Chikwawa–Bangula–Nsanje road
    • Feeder roads to farms, livestock centres, and tourism sites (120 km)
  • Build new bridges and culverts on flood-prone crossings.
  • Extend broadband internet to 40 rural centres.
  • Solarize 60 schools, health centres, and agro-processing zones.

Investment: MWK 90 Billion
Jobs: 4,000
Impact: Year-round access, disaster resilience, digital inclusion

Smart Housing & Boma Modernization

Context & Challenges:
Chikwawa Boma and growth centres like Bereu and Nchalo face unplanned settlements and infrastructure gaps. Housing is inadequate for civil servants and farmers.

UTM Pledges:

  • Construct 2,000 climate-smart homes in Chikwawa, Bereu, and Nchalo.
  • Each with solar lighting, rainwater tanks, clean sanitation.
  • Upgrade town layouts with:
    • Public Wi-Fi
    • Street lighting
    • Marketplaces and service centres

Investment: MWK 40 Billion
Jobs: 2,500
Impact: Livability, service delivery, SME formalization

Health, Education & Vocational Skills

Context & Challenges:
Health facilities in Chikwawa are overstretched, and technical training is limited. Floods often isolate patients from care.

UTM Pledges:

  • Expand Chikwawa District Hospital:
    • Emergency theatre, maternity ward, telemedicine wing
  • Build a new Vocational Skills Centre in Nchalo:
    • Specializing in agribusiness, renewable energy, hospitality
  • Upgrade 3 flood-resistant rural clinics with solar and clean water

Investment: MWK 30 Billion
Jobs: 1,800
Annual Trainees: 2,000
Impact: Lifesaving care, job-ready youth, localized skills base

Mining, Energy & Climate Resilience

Context & Challenges:
Chikwawa has clay and limestone reserves and is ideal for solar energy. But small-scale mining is informal, and energy poverty remains high.

UTM Pledges:

  • Formalize clay and limestone extraction at Ngabu and Bereu.
  • Build a Mini Cement Block Manufacturing Unit.
  • Install 20 solar mini-grids across flood-prone rural hubs.
  • Train 1,000 youth in renewable energy maintenance and mining safety.

Investment: MWK 25 Billion
Jobs: 1,800
Impact: Green energy jobs, safer homes, local material supply

Environment, Reforestation & Irrigation

Context & Challenges:
Charcoal burning, floods, and poor land use threaten Chikwawa’s ecosystem. Irrigation systems remain underutilized despite water abundance.

UTM Pledges:

  • Reforest 10,000 hectares of buffer zones and degraded hills.
  • Establish 20 youth-run briquette co-ops and 5,000 hectares of youth communal forests.
  • Install 600 solar-powered irrigation units on mega farms and co-ops.
  • Promote climate-smart agroforestry and fruit tree systems.

Investment: MWK 20 Billion
Jobs: 1,200
Impact: Flood control, clean energy, increased yields, youth stewardship

MK500 Billion Chikwawa District Development Fund (2025–2030)

Administered by: Chikwawa District Development Agency (CDDA)
Annual Allocation: MK100 Billion

Strategic Areas:

  • Smart housing & civic centres
  • Roads, bridges & digital access
  • Mega farms & irrigation
  • Livestock & processing hubs
  • Youth SMEs & training institutes
  • Green infrastructure & mining

Targeted Impact (By 2030):

  • 50,000 jobs created
  • 5,000 SMEs supported
  • 4x increase in food and livestock output
  • Poverty cut in half

Chikwawa District Manifesto Summary Table

Sector Investment (MWK) Jobs Created Output / Target Key Impact
Mega Farms 140 Billion 8,000 300,000 MT/year Food security, income boost
Livestock 45 Billion 4,500 Meat, milk, poultry Livelihoods, nutrition, youth co-ops
Tourism 40 Billion 3,500 60,000 visitors/year Cultural pride, rural tourism
Infrastructure 90 Billion 4,000 120 km roads, 40 broadband zones Connectivity, climate resilience
Smart Housing & Urban Dev. 40 Billion 2,500 2,000 homes Livability, SME activity
Health & Skills 30 Billion 1,800 2,000 youth trained/year Health access, job-ready graduates
Mining & Energy 25 Billion 1,800 Cement blocks, 20 solar mini-grids Green economy, materials access
Environment & Irrigation 20 Billion 1,200 10,000 ha forests, 600 irrigation kits Climate adaptation, productivity

 

Chikwawa Rising: From the Valley of Sugar to a Future of Prosperity.
Vote UTM. Vote Dr. Dalitso Kabambe.
Smart Agriculture. Smart Energy. Smart Growth.
SKC Legacy Lives On.

Tsogolo Lathu Lowala Lafika!

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