Lilongwe

Region

Lilongwe is the capital of Malawi and the Central Region of Malawi. It has around 674,000 inhabitants ( 2008), where the population is growing rapidly. Lilongwe is characterized by large plots and broad, park-like boulevards. The city is the result of much cross- town planning and is divided into an old and a lot of construction activities by constantly developing new town. The districts are often far apart.

Geography

Lilongwe is located in the southwest of the country, 100 kilometers west of Lake Malawi and around 60 kilometers east of the border with Mozambique and Zambia, on a plateau at the Lilongwe River. The city is located about 1,050 meters above sea level and is at the same time also the capital of the Central Region, one of the three major administrative regions of the country.

History

The city was founded in 1947 as a trading center. After independence, President Kamuzu Banda of Malawi in 1964 was able to convince the international donor community of the need for a central capital to counter the North -South divide in Malawi. So Lilongwe was declared the seat of government. The town was founded largely on the drawing board.

Policy

Since 1994, Lilongwe is also the seat of the Malawian Parliament, which still met up to that point in Zomba. 2010, the new Parliament building was inaugurated, built with Chinese assistance. Germany, France, the USA, Mozambique, the United Kingdom and Zambia have embassies in the city. Moreover, most NGOs operating in Malawi and other international organizations, such as the GIC, its representative offices in Lilongwe.

Culture and sights

The market on the Malangalanga Road is very lively. In the old town there are Indian shops. Nearby Salanjama, an area with numerous species of birds is. Areas are located on the upper slopes to Lilongwetal with dense rain forest and shrubs of Protea. Another tourist attraction is the tobacco auctions. There is an animal park where sometimes hyenas and crocodiles live between the Old Town and the new center.

Economy

Lilongwe is the administrative center of the country. With the economic dynamics of the city Blantyre ( 547,500 inhabitants), it can not compete. To a limited extent, it is the commercial center in a form suitable for agriculture region. Here the tobacco auctions take place, Malawi 's most important export commodity. In its vicinity there is the built with German development aid central silo Malawi.

The economy of Lilongwe is dominated by Indians who were only here, may settle in Blantyre and Zomba. In addition, many other foreigners living here.

Lilongwe Kamuzu International Airport has an airport that allows the handling of large aircraft 24 hours a day. Its existence owes the civil war in Mozambique, which necessitated an alternate airport for Cuamba.

In addition, the city is by the railway line ( Beira ) Nsanje - Mchinji connected (see also: Rail transport in Malawi).

In Lilongwe centers include an agricultural college and the Baptist Theological Seminary of Malawi, a training facility of Baptist pastors.

Sons and daughters of the town

• Tamandani Nsaliwa, football player, member of the Canadian national soccer team
• Elvis Kafoteka, football player, member of the Malawi national football team