Leadership
Former Mayor of Blantyre City
Wild James Ndipo
AMALI Cohort
2024
Term of Office
2019-2024
Length of Term
5 Years
Mayoral Legacy Goal
Markets & Economy
Transform market infrastructure and improve vendor services for 1 million customers by 2025, to improve liveability and enhance local revenue collection
Governance
Overview
Blantyre is Malawi’s second-largest city located in the Shire Highlands in the Southern Region of Malawi (on the edge of the African Rift Valley) at an altitude of approximately 1,150 metres above sea level. The topography is varied, comprising relatively flat areas, undulating terrain, several small hills and streams.
Blantyre City Council. Communication Strategy Document. https://bccmw.com/assets/uploads/2020/03/Final-Communication-strategy-BCC-2018-2023.pdf
Regional, Municipal and Administrative Boundaries
Electoral methodology
Mayor voted for by 23 elected council members and 8 members of parliament.
Structure of departments, roles and responsibilities
Function of the municipality or equivalent
Main departments:
- Administrative Services
- Human Resource Development and Management Services
- Legal Services
- Leisure, Culture and Environmental Services
- Engineering Services
- Health and Social Services
- Financial Services
- Town Planning and Estates Management Services
- Commerce and Industry Services
- Education Services
Blantyre City website https://bccmw.com/about-us
Political structure for voting
Finances
Municipal budget
K18,730,559,874
USD 22,982,283
National Local Government Finance Committee (2022) Final Summary For 2022-23 Council Budget: https://www.nlgfc.gov.mw/index.php/plushub/file/113-final-summary-for-2022-23-council-budget-5th-april-2022
Sources of revenue
- Central Government Transfers
- Property rates
- Income from Market establishments
- Fees and service charges
- Licenses and permits
- Income from Commercial undertaking
National Local Government Finance Committee (2022) Final Summary for 2022-23 Council Budget: https://www.nlgfc.gov.mw/index.php/plushub/file/113-final-summary-for-2022-23-council-budget-5th-april-2022
Main Economic Activities
- Agriculture forestry and fishing
- Manufacturing
- Construction
- Wholesale and retail
- Finance,
- Transport
- Accommodation & Food
- Services
- Motor Vehicle Sales And Maintenance
- The Informal Sector
National Statistical Office (2018) Malawi Population And Housing Census – Blantyre City Report: http://www.nsomalawi.mw/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=226&Itemid=6
Downloadable governance documents
Development Profile
Age Pyramid
Blantyre-Age-Pyramid
Age Pyramid
Population Trends
Population Trends
Population Trends
191,682
Total households
National Statistical Office (2018) Malawi Population And Housing Census Education Report:
Population Trends
240 km2
Size of city
National Statistical Office (2018) Malawi Population And Housing Census Education Report:
Population Trends
3,334 people/km2
Population density
National Statistical Office (2018) Malawi Population And Housing Census Education Report:
Population Trends
936,712
Population projection or next available year (2028)
National Statistical Office (2018) Malawi Population And Housing Census Education Report:
Population Trends
800,264
Population figures for municipality (2018)
National Statistical Office (2018) Malawi Population And Housing Census Education Report:
Population Trends
648,852
Population figures for municipality (2008)
National Statistical Office (2018) Malawi Population And Housing Census Education Report:
Population Trends
Informal Economy
Informal Economy
Informal Economy
Unemployment
Unemployment
Unemployment
18%
Of population were employed in the informal sector in 2011
City of Blantyre (2023) Draft Status Quo Report:
Informal Economy
20.7%
Of the population (aged 15 years and older) is unemployed
National Statistical Office (2018) Economic Characteristics of the Population Report
Unemployment
No items found.
No items found.
Facilities
Facilities
Facilities
Diseases
Diseases: Most Prevalent Diagnoses
Most Prevalent Diagnoses
Diseases
Diseases: Non-Communicable
Non-Communicable Diseases
Nutrition
Nutrition
Nutrition
Life Expectancy
Life Expectancy
Life Expectancy
Diseases
Diseases: Major Infectious Diseases
Major Infectious Diseases
No items found.
HDI
HDI Score
Human Development Index Score
Human Development Index Definition
The HDI score, ranging from 1 (best score) to 0 (worst score), summarises the average achievement across three basic dimensions of human development:
• A long and healthy life (life expectancy at birth)
• Knowledge (mean years of schooling for adults 25 years and older; expected years of schooling for children of school entering age)
• A decent standard of living
Education
Education: Literacy Rate
Literacy Rate
0.512
National HDI Score (2021)
HDI Score
UNPD Human Development Index
89.7%
Literacy Rate
Education: Literacy Rate
National Statistical Office (2018) Malawi Population And Housing Census Education Report :
Basic Services
Basic Services: Sanitation
Sanitation
Basic Services
Basic Services: Waste
Waste
Basic Services
Electricity
Electricity
Housing
Housing: Access
Access to Housing
Spatial Development
Spatial Development: Maps
Urban Area Maps
Mobility
Transport: Median Travel Times
Average Travel Times
Transport
Transport: Modes
Modes of Transport
Basic Services
Water
Water
95%
Of total households access their water from improved sources (piped water, public standpipes, protected wells, and boreholes)
National Statistical Office (2018) Malawi Population And Housing Census Education Report:
Water
88.2%
Total daily water demand supplied by Blantyre Water Board
National Statistical Office (2018) Malawi Population And Housing Census Education Report:
Water
26
Number of reservoirs servicing Blantyre
National Statistical Office (2018) Malawi Population And Housing Census Education Report:
Water
30%
Of solid waste dumped at Landfills
City of Blantyre (2023) Draft Status Quo Report:
Basic Services: Waste
70%
Of solid waste is dumped illegally
City of Blantyre (2023) Draft Status Quo Report:
Basic Services: Waste
0.8%
Boat or canoe as mode of transport - Southern Region
City of Blantyre (2023) Draft Status Quo Report:
Transport: Modes
368 tonnes
Amount of waste generated daily
City of Blantyre (2023) Draft Status Quo Report:
Basic Services: Waste
1%
Oxcart as mode of transport - Southern Region
City of Blantyre (2023) Draft Status Quo Report:
Transport: Modes
3.8%
Motorcycles as mode of transport - Southern Region
City of Blantyre (2023) Draft Status Quo Report:
Transport: Modes
2.1%
Private cars as mode of transport
City of Blantyre (2023) Draft Status Quo Report:
Transport: Modes
37.7%
Bicycle as mode of transport - Southern Region
City of Blantyre (2023) Draft Status Quo Report:
Transport: Modes
79.7%
Use unimproved pit latrines
National Statistical Office (2018) Malawi Population And Housing Census Education Report:
Basic Services: Sanitation
2.1%
Use other
National Statistical Office (2018) Malawi Population And Housing Census Education Report:
Basic Services: Sanitation
15.7%
Use Flush Toilets
National Statistical Office (2018) Malawi Population And Housing Census Education Report:
Basic Services: Sanitation
2.4%
Use ventilated improved pit latrines
National Statistical Office (2018) Malawi Population And Housing Census Education Report:
Basic Services: Sanitation
1.5%
Of households use solar as main source for lighting
National Statistical Office (2018) Malawi Population And Housing Census Education Report:
Electricity
64.4%
Of households use electricity as main source for lighting
National Statistical Office (2018) Malawi Population And Housing Census Education Report:
Electricity
Urban Development Challenges
Major Development Challenges
While the secondary data presented in the city profiles are from credible sources, we have not been able to verify the indicator definitions, denominators, or numerators, nor the data collection methodology for the primary data.
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