“From Borders to Markets: Karonga — Gateway of Rice, Fish, Trade & Clean Energy”
Dr. Dalitso Kabambe – UTM Presidential Candidate 2025
“UTM’s bold transformation agenda will turn Karonga into Malawi’s northern trade engine—powered by rice megafarms, fish processing, a green hydro plant, and a revitalized port economy.”
Karonga, a border district with immense agricultural land, strategic trade access, and rich natural resources, is uniquely positioned to become Malawi’s northern economic engine. Under UTM’s leadership, Karonga will evolve into a rice and aquaculture powerhouse, an energy-producing corridor, and a gateway for regional and international trade.
However, Karonga’s promise has been held back by years of underinvestment in infrastructure, limited power supply, unexploited ports, and neglected youth potential. UTM is ready to reverse this trend.
Context & Challenges:
Karonga has some of Malawi’s best conditions for irrigated rice farming, particularly in the Kilombero zone. Yet farmers face limited access to certified seeds, unreliable irrigation, and no modern processing facilities—resulting in low yields and wasted market potential.
UTM Pledges:
Investment: MWK 140 Billion
Jobs: 9,000 direct; 3,000 indirect
Output: 300,000 MT annually
Impact: Malawi achieves rice self-sufficiency and begins exporting to East Africa and the GCC.
Context & Challenges:
Karonga’s vast lakeshore is underutilized. While fish stocks remain rich, there’s been no structured aquaculture push, and fish processing is primitive or nonexistent. Youths rely on informal fishing with no access to capital, markets, or cold chain logistics.
UTM Pledges:
Investment: MWK 60 Billion
Jobs: 6,000
Output: 15,000 MT/year
Impact: A sustainable, export-focused aquaculture economy emerges—led by youth and SMEs.
Context & Challenges:
Malawi relies almost exclusively on the Shire River for electricity. Northern Malawi, including Karonga, suffers frequent blackouts and limited industrial growth. Lack of grid reliability scares off investors and stalls local development.
UTM Pledges:
Investment: MWK 800 Billion (joint venture)
Jobs: 1,200
Impact: Energy security for Karonga, attraction of investors, and a balanced national grid.
Context & Challenges:
Most vendors in Karonga operate in unsafe, unregulated environments. They lack cold storage, lighting, and access to formal finance. Municipal revenue remains low, and young traders remain excluded from mainstream trade.
UTM Pledges:
Investment: MWK 30 Billion
Jobs: 1,200 (construction), 2,500 vendors formalized
Impact: Formal trade, women-led cooperatives, local government revenue uplift.
Context & Challenges:
Despite hosting a border with Tanzania and proximity to TAZARA, Karonga lacks functional logistics infrastructure. The port is underutilized, roads are broken, and the border post is congested and outdated.
UTM Pledges:
Investment: MWK 200 Billion
Jobs: 6,000 (construction), 1,500 (logistics & aviation)
Impact: Karonga becomes a trade hub for Malawi and the region.
Context & Challenges:
Karonga’s talent—especially youth and skilled labor—is leaving due to poor housing and infrastructure. Farmers lack housing near their farms; professionals struggle with affordability.
UTM Pledges:
Investment: MWK 60 Billion
Jobs: 3,000
Impact: Talent retention, improved dignity, vibrant local economy.
Context & Challenges:
Karonga faces health service shortages, especially in pediatrics, trauma, and maternity. Youth lack access to skills aligned with the district’s emerging sectors.
UTM Pledges:
Investment: MWK 30 Billion
Jobs: 2,000
Output: 2,500 trained youth per year
Impact: Skilled workforce, better health outcomes.
Context & Challenges:
Lake pollution, deforestation, and flooding threaten Karonga’s future. Plastic waste chokes fishing areas, while flood canals are missing in key agricultural zones.
UTM Pledges:
Investment: MWK 15 Billion
Jobs: 500
Impact: Cleaner lake economy, reduced disaster risk, greener growth.
Context & Challenges:
Karonga’s mining potential remains underutilized. The Kayerekera Uranium Mine remains inactive. No local beneficiation is taking place, and mining communities remain poor and unskilled.
UTM Pledges:
Investment: MWK 150 Billion (PPP model)
Jobs: 4,000 direct; 2,000 indirect
Impact: Export revenue, mining jobs, energy inputs for industry, local empowerment.
Context & Challenges:
Most district plans remain unfunded and poorly coordinated. Local projects stall due to weak institutions and lack of accountability.
UTM Pledges:
Impact: Decentralized development, faster execution, local ownership.
| Sector | Investment (MWK) | Jobs Created | Key Outputs & Impacts |
| Rice Mega Farm | 140 Billion | 12,000 | 300,000 MT/year; national rice self-sufficiency + exports |
| Aquaculture | 60 Billion | 6,000 | 15,000 MT/year fish; MWK 100B in export and domestic revenue |
| Livestock | 40 Billion | 4,000 | 25,000 cattle/year; improved food security and rural income |
| Songwe Hydropower | 800 Billion | 1,200 | 90MW power; northern grid independence; industrial boost |
| Infrastructure incl. Port | 250 Billion | 7,500 | Upgraded port, roads, dry port, airport; gateway to Dar es Salaam |
| Smart Tourism & Heritage | 25 Billion | 1,500 | Revitalized CMCK museum; Fossil Festival; tourism income |
| Smart City | 75 Billion | 4,000 | 3,000 urban homes; commercial & digital services hub |
| Smart Village (Chilumba) | 25 Billion | 1,200 | Digital hubs; drone pilot programs; youth inclusion |
| Eco Housing | 60 Billion | 3,000 | 2,500 homes; anchor farmer retention; improved dignity |
| Health & Vocational | 30 Billion | 2,000 | 2,500 skilled youth/year; upgraded district hospital |
| Environment | 15 Billion | 500 | Flood resilience; waste-to-energy; clean lake economy |
| Mining & Industrialization | 150 Billion | 8,000 | Reopened Kayerekera; beneficiation; export earnings |
| Smart Markets | 30 Billion | 3,700 | 2,500 formalized SMEs; improved trade environment |
| Governance (KDDA Fund) | 100 Billion/year | – | District agency; youth-first procurement; rapid rollout |
“From Borders to Markets: Karonga — Gateway of Rice, Fish, Trade & Clean Energy”
Vote UTM. Vote Dr. Dalitso Kabambe.
“Delivering Real Jobs, Real Exports, and Real Services”
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