“UTM’s bold plan will transform Kasungu into Malawi’s resource-rich smart-district—honoring its past while powering its future.”
— Dr. Dalitso Kabambe – UTM Presidential Candidate 2025
Context & Challenges:
Kasungu—birthplace of Malawi’s founding President, Dr. Hastings Kamuzu Banda—is historically significant and agriculturally rich. Yet, decades of underinvestment have led to low productivity, poor infrastructure, and rising poverty. Despite mineral deposits and fertile land, much of Kasungu remains dependent on rainfed agriculture and unstructured markets. Youth unemployment is high, and many communities lack digital and transport connectivity.
UTM’s Vision:
UTM will reposition Kasungu as a modern industrial-agricultural economy. From mega farms in Santhe and Chamama, to mining zones in Kanyika and Livwezi, to smart housing and markets in Kasungu Boma—Kasungu will become Malawi’s agro-industrial backbone and a blueprint for local transformation.
Target Areas: Santhe, Chisemphere, Mtunthama, Chamama
Context & Challenges:
While Kasungu has vast arable land, most farms are small-scale and lack irrigation, mechanization, and market access. Soil degradation and climate change have reduced yields.
UTM Pledges:
Impact:
Target Areas: Chulu, Linga, Kamboni, Mtunthama
Context & Challenges:
Livestock production is informal and poorly supported, with no large-scale veterinary systems or processing centres. Feed shortages, disease, and poor breeds limit expansion.
UTM Pledges:
Impact:
Target Areas: Kasungu Boma Industrial Park, Chamama Agro-Zone
Context & Challenges:
Kasungu exports raw materials like tobacco and maize with little local processing. Youth lack jobs, and SMEs lack factory space, power, or capital access.
UTM Pledges:
Impact:
Target Areas: Kasungu Boma, Chamama, Mtunthama, Santhe
Context & Challenges:
Most rural trading centres lack modern markets, forcing vendors to operate in unsanitary or unsafe environments. Informal traders dominate, with little access to digital systems or business support.
UTM Pledges:
Impact:
Target Areas: Mtunthama (Kamuzu Birthplace & Museum), Mtunthama Plateau, Kasungu National Park
Context & Challenges
Despite rich Chewa cultural sites and unique natural landmarks like Mchinji Mountain, the district lacks tourist infrastructure, visibility, and a coordinated tourism product. Artisan economies remain small-scale and informal.
UTM Pledges
Anchors: Mchinji Mountain, Chewa Sacred Forests, Kalulu Fossil Site
Investment: MWK 25 Billion
Jobs Created: 2,500
Target: 40,000 visitors/year
Revenue: MWK 10 Billion/year
Impact: Culture-based tourism economy, youth enterprises, heritage preservation
Target Areas: M1 (Kasungu–Mzimba), Santhe, Chamama, Mtunthama, Lisasadzi, Chulu, Mwase
Context & Challenges:
Poor roads, erratic electricity, and lack of broadband disconnect farmers, schools, and health centres from markets and services.
UTM Pledges:
Impact:
Target Areas: Kasungu Boma, Santhe, Chamama, Mnyanja, Luwelezi
Context & Challenges:
Many professionals and SME owners lack quality housing. Rural areas lack planned settlements and utility infrastructure
UTM Pledges:
Impact:
Target Areas: Kasungu District Hospital, Mtunthama Skills College
Context & Challenges:
Kasungu Hospital lacks capacity to meet rising demand. Youth lack technical training pathways.
UTM Pledges:
Impact:
Target Areas: Mtunthama Hills, Bua Buffer Zone, Kasungu Forest Reserves
Context & Challenges:
Kasungu suffers from severe deforestation, river degradation, and unsustainable charcoal use.
UTM Pledges:
Impact:
Target Areas: Shayona (Livwezi), Kanyika (Chinkhoma), Chamama
Context & Challenges:
Kasungu’s mineral wealth remains untapped due to lack of structured investment and training. Artisanal mining is unregulated and low-value.
UTM Pledges:
Impact:
Administered by: Kasungu District Development Agency (KDDA)
Annual Allocation: MK100 Billion (2025–2030)
Context & Challenges:
Central government funding for districts has been piecemeal and politically driven. Kasungu needs a long-term, autonomous investment engine to drive sustained development.
UTM Pledges:
Impact:
| Sector | Investment (MWK) | Jobs Created | Key Outputs | Impact |
| Mega Farms & Agricultural Transformation | 180 Billion | 15,000 | 500,000 MT crop output; agro-processing zones in Santhe, Chamama, Boma | Agro-export growth, farmer incomes rise, agro-industrial hub |
| Livestock & Animal Husbandry | 55 Billion | 6,000 | Meat, milk, yogurt; vet centers; dairy plant; structured markets | Structured livestock economy, rural wealth, improved nutrition |
| Industrial Zones & Processing Clusters | 90 Billion | 7,000 | Tobacco processing, edible oil, SME shells, youth cooperatives | Value addition, job creation, investor attraction |
| Modern Markets & Urban Economy | 40 Billion | 4,000 | Cold storage markets, solar stalls, digital trading systems | Formalized vendors, dignified trade, grassroots inclusion |
| Formalized vendors, dignified trade, grassroots inclusion | 25 Billion | 25,000 | Kamuzu Museum, Cultural Village, eco-lodges, annual festival | 40,000 tourists/year; MWK12B revenue; cultural preservation |
| Infrastructure & Smart Connectivity | 150 Billion | 6,000 | Tarmacked roads, fibre broadband, solar mini-grids, smart logistics | Improved access, digital inclusion, agro-logistics expansion |
| Smart Housing & Boma Upgrade | 90 Billion | 5,000 | 4,000 eco-homes; SME stalls; smart Boma services; smart villages | Housing-led productivity, SME expansion, cleaner towns |
| Health & Vocational Skills | 35 Billion | 25,000 | Expanded hospital; vocational college; 4,000 youth trained yearly | Better healthcare and employability, reduced rural brain drain |
| Environment & Land Restoration | 20 Billion | 1,000 | 25,000 hectares reforested; irrigation; briquette cooperatives | Climate resilience, food security, green job creation |
| Natural Resources & Mining Industrialization | 100 Billion | 8,000 | Cement, niobium, limestone production; mining logistics hub | Export-ready mining sector, forex inflow, new skills base |
| Kasungu District Development Fund | 500 Billion | 50,000 | Annual projects across sectors; SME and youth-led development | 107,000+ jobs, 4,000 SMEs, 300% revenue growth |
| Total | 1.285 Trillion | 107,000 | ___ | ___ |
“Kasungu Reborn: From Tobacco Fields to Industrial Powerhouse.”
