Lilongwe

Lilongwe has grown through a relatively dispersed pattern of planned areas, informal settlements and expanding peri-urban neighbourhoods. This low-density structure increases the cost of roads, public transport and utility networks, while limited municipal resources make it difficult for infrastructure to keep pace with the outward spread of the capital.

Malawi’s urbanization review identifies road maintenance, planning capacity and basic services as recurring constraints in the country’s cities. Later transport analysis stresses the importance of integrating land-use planning with multimodal mobility and preserving space for future transport infrastructure. For Lilongwe, the central issue is therefore how to guide new growth toward more connected and serviceable areas, reducing the long-term cost of fragmented expansion while improving access to jobs and public services.