Chitipa

Region

Chitipa is a town with 9000 inhabitants ( 2006 estimate ) in the far northwest of Malawi at 1200 meters altitude and capital of the district with an area of ​​4288 km ² and 126 799 inhabitants. It lies on the gravel road from Karonga to the Great North Road ( Highway Tanzam ) in Zambia from Lusaka in Zambia to Dar es Salaam in Tanzania. The district extends from the north of the Nyika plateau above the hill country north to the Tanzanian border and from the hillside to Karonga in the east to the Zambian border. No road is paved here. Especially in the rainy season there are regular shortages. The city Chitipa has a runway, a 100 -bed hospital, primary and secondary schools with boarding facilities, weekly market, supermarket, post office and bank.

Chitipa belonged to the ancient Kingdom of Ngonde. This people settled to date in this area until after Karonga. During the British colonial period it was known as Fort Hill.

Among the problems Chitipas grubbing on the surrounding mountains, the Mafinga Hills to the south and Misuku Hills belongs to the east. Forest cover is so strong cleared that landslides are the result and also a drying up of sources in the dry season. The methods of cultivation of the farmers here are applicable for Malawi as antiquated. There is a lack fertilizers, good seeds, transport and simple irrigation. Chitipa counts with Ntchisi and Nsanje to the districts with the most mud houses. Their roofs are either of burnt brick or sheet metal, as is the case in other regions of the country.