“Machinga Rising: Where Mountains, Rivers, and Farmlands Meet Opportunity.”
“UTM will unlock Machinga’s potential in agriculture, tourism, and green industry—transforming natural beauty and youth ambition into sustainable wealth.”
— Dr. Dalitso Kabambe, UTM Presidential Candidate 2025
Context & Challenges:
Machinga is a district of great geographical contrasts—bounded by the Mulunguzi Mountains, watered by the Shire River, and enriched with arable land. Yet, despite this natural wealth, Machinga suffers from underinvestment in infrastructure, limited agro-processing capacity, unstructured tourism, and high youth unemployment. Its communities remain underserved by vocational services, modern housing, and digital infrastructure.
UTM’s Vision:
UTM will transform Machinga into a green agro-industrial powerhouse. From mega farms in Chikweo and Nsanama, to tourism ventures in the Mulunguzi ranges, and quarry development in Nanyumbu, the district will thrive through smart investment, cooperative-based growth, and inclusive rural transformation.
Target Areas: Nsanama, Liwonde, Chikweo
Context & Challenges:
Machinga has vast fertile land but suffers from erratic rainfall, low irrigation coverage, and limited access to markets or storage. Farmers often operate at subsistence level without equipment or cooperatives.
UTM Pledges:
Investment: MWK 130 Billion
Jobs: 7,500
Output: 280,000 MT annually
Impact: Food and export security, tripled farmer incomes, year-round farming
Target Areas: Ngokwe, Machinga Boma, Nsanama, Ntaja
Context & Challenges:
Scattered animal holdings dominate Machinga. Disease, poor breeds, and lack of vet care limit commercial viability despite ideal dryland terrain.
UTM Pledges:
Investment: MWK 40 Billion
Jobs: 4,000
Output: Milk, meat, hides, poultry
Impact: Rural income, nutrition improvement, veterinary services growth
Target Areas: Ngokwe, Machinga Boma, Nsanama, Ntaja
Context & Challenges:
Scattered animal holdings dominate Machinga. Disease, poor breeds, and lack of vet care limit commercial viability despite ideal dryland terrain.
UTM Pledges:
Investment: MWK 40 Billion
Jobs: 4,000
Output: Milk, meat, hides, poultry
Impact: Rural income, nutrition improvement, veterinary services growth
Target Areas: Liwonde–Mulunguzi Eco Corridor, Chikala Pillars, Ntaja
Context & Challenges:
Machinga is rich in scenery and culture, but has no structured tourism value chains, no lodges, and no formal events—missing out on youth-driven income and cultural promotion.
UTM Pledges:
Investment: MWK 50 Billion
Jobs: 5,000
Visitor Target: 80,000/year
Revenue: MWK 15 Billion/year
Impact: Youth tourism employment, cultural branding, local pride
Target Corridors: Machinga–Zomba, Chikweo–Mangochi, 100km feeder roads
Context & Challenges:
Feeder and arterial roads are largely impassable in rainy season. Many schools, clinics, and trading centres lack power, internet, or lighting.
UTM Pledges:
Investment: MWK 100 Billion
Jobs: 4,000
Impact: Improved logistics, service access, rural connectivity, investment readiness
Target Areas: Machinga Boma, Nsanama, Ntaja
Context & Challenges:
Sprawl in Machinga’s urban centres is poorly planned. Civic services are minimal, and few modern homes exist for teachers, SMEs, or farmers.
UTM Pledges:
Investment: MWK 45 Billion
Jobs: 2,500
Impact: Livable communities, formalized towns, SME expansion
Target Areas: Machinga District Hospital, Liwonde, 3 rural clinics
Context & Challenges:
The district hospital is overstretched. There is no vocational training pathway for the youth, limiting career prospects in agriculture, mining, or tourism.
UTM Pledges:
Investment: MWK 35 Billion
Jobs: 2,000
Impact: Health access, maternal safety, skilled youth pipeline
Target Areas: Chikweo, Nanyumbu Hills
Context & Challenges:
Machinga has untapped deposits of sand, limestone, and clay—currently mined informally with no safety standards or local value addition.
UTM Pledges:
Investment: MWK 20 Billion
Jobs: 1,500
Impact: Construction materials supply, youth-run SMEs, mining safety
Target Areas: Reforestation belts, communal forests, irrigation zones
Context & Challenges:
Charcoal use is rampant, forests are vanishing, and most farming is rain-dependent despite water availability.
UTM Pledges:
Investment: MWK 20 Billion
Jobs: 1,200
Impact: Climate adaptation, food security, forest-based wealth
Oversight by: Machinga District Development Agency (MDDA)
Annual Allocation: MWK 100 Billion (2025–2030)
Context & Challenges:
Machinga’s strategic location and resources have never been matched by a structured public investment approach. Local SMEs, youth, and farmers lack funding for growth.
UTM Pledges:
Impact:
| Sector | Investment (MWK) | Jobs Created | Key Outputs | Impact |
| Mega Farms & Agricultural Transformation | 130 Billion | 7,500 | 280,000 MT/year; irrigation; Liwonde & Chikweo processing hubs | Food security, modern farming, farmer income growth |
| Livestock & Animal Husbandry | 40 Billion | 4,000 | Ranches, meat & dairy units; breed diversification | Livelihood security; structured livestock markets |
| Tourism, Culture & Recreation | 50 Billion | 5,000 | Eco-lodges, Chikala tourism circuit, Ntaja museum | Youth jobs, MWK 15B tourism revenue |
| Infrastructure & Smart Connectivity | 100 Billion | 4,000 | Roads, broadband, solar grids | Connectivity, digital inclusion, logistics |
| Smart Housing & Civic Infrastructure | 45 Billion | 2,500 | 2,500 homes, 3 Smart Bomas, SME stalls | Formal towns, SME support, better living |
| Health, Education & Vocational Skills | 35 Billion | 2,000 | Hospital expansion, vocational college, 3 clinics | Skilled workforce, health improvement |
| Mining & Quarry Development | 20 Billion | 1,500 | Formal quarries, mini-processing, 1,500 trained youth | Local materials, job safety, SME growth |
| Environment & Irrigation | 20 Billion | 1,200 | 10,000ha reforestation; 25 co-ops; 400 irrigation kits | Climate resilience, food security |
| District Development Fund (MDDA) | 500 Billion | 45,000 | 100 projects/year, local procurement, SME/youth focus | Inclusive delivery, district-wide transformation |
Machinga Rising: Where Mountains, Rivers, and Farmlands Meet Opportunity.
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