Capital Relocation in Africa: The Case of Lilongwe in Malawi

Several developing countries have initiated relocation programmes over the past 30 years. Certain common issues can be shown to have contributed to these decisions: the peripheral location of the capital; its colonial connotations; and the need to spread regional development, allay regional or ethnic jealousies, and provide a focus for national pride. An examination of the transferral of Malawi's capital shows how these issues affected the decision to move from Zomba to Lilongwe. The development of Lilongwe as the new capital is facing many problems in the fields of finance, planning, population growth, service and housing provision, and employment. Moreover, Lilongwe's limited ability to provide a real counter-attraction to the major urban centre of Blantyre has been partly due to a lack of strong government commitment to enforcing appropriate policies.