About Us

Who We Are

Blantyre City is the oldest urban centre in Malawi and Southern Africa. Founded by Scottish Missionaries in 1870, Blantyre was named after the Scottish town where Dr. David Livingstone was born. It was merged with Limbe in 1956, having been incorporated in 1885 as the first Municipality in Central Africa, and declared a City on Independence Day in 1966.

The population is approximately One Million by day and Nine Hundred Thousand by night. Covering an area of approximately 250 square kilometres, Blantyre City Council is situated in the Shire Highlands in the Southern Region of Malawi (on the edge of the African Rift Valley) at an altitude of approximately 1150 metres above sea level. The topography is varied, comprising relatively flat areas, undulating terrain, several small hills and streams.

Blantyre City experiences tropical continental climate, with light drizzle in the cold dry season, called Chiperoni, caused by moist maritime air. Temperatures range from an average of 13°C in the cold season to 21°C in the hottest months of September, October and November. The average annual rainfall is 1122mm.

Governance Structure

The City is managed in accordance with the Local Government Act (1998), which replaced the Local Government (Urban Areas) Act and the Local Government (District Councils) Act. The Act mandates elected representatives of the various City wards, along with ex-officio and non-voting members (headed by the Mayor), to manage the City.

The Council’s operations are regulated by the Act and implemented through the secretariat headed by the Chief Executive Officer, structured into the following departments:

• Administrative Services
• Leisure, Culture and Environmental Services
• Engineering Services
• Health and Social Services
• Human Resources Management and Development
• Legal Services
• Financial Services
• Town Planning and Estates Management Services
• Commerce and Industry Services
• Education Services

Mission Statement

To provide environmentally friendly, high quality, efficient and effective demand driven municipal services in partnership with the individual and corporate residents to attain better quality lives for all residents in the City.

Vision Statement

A City of choice in the SADC region with a conducive environment where people shall take ownership, live, do business and prosper.

Our Core Values

• Trust, honesty and integrity
• Accountability and transparency
• Zero tolerance to corruption
• Professionalism
• Non discrimination
• Team work
• Courtesy
• Local participation

Our Motto

Taking the City back to the People

Investment / Partnership Opportunities

• Construction of modern roads
• Construction of an International Airport
• Construction of modern multi-storey parkades
• Establishment of Taxi Companies
• Construction of Park Station / Bus Terminal
• Improvement of Public Transport System (City bus service)
• Solid and liquid waste management
• Improvement of City street lighting
• Construction of modern town houses

Why Invest in Blantyre?

• Status of Blantyre as a Millennium City
• Geographical location of Blantyre in the region
• Proximity to the Shire–Zambezi waterway
• Presence of an international airport
• Good road infrastructure network
• Significant natural resources in and around Blantyre
• Proximity to key agricultural areas
• Blantyre as a major industrial hub for Malawi and the region
• Excellent climate
• High quality educational, health and recreation facilities (including two golf courses)
• Competitive investment incentives (including export processing zones)
• Key industries: cement, soap, food & tobacco processing, textiles
• Liberalised economic and trade regime
• Political stability, rule of law and security

Contacts

Blantyre City Council
Civic Centre, Kasungu Crescent
Private Bag 67, Blantyre

Email: bcachief@bccmw.com
Mobile: +265 882 444 614
Toll Free Line: 526