A STUDY OF A SMALL SUB-URBAN COMMUNITY
GROUP 1Fletcher MoyoMangaliso ChimaHeather MusasaTiwonge
MkandawireARD-310A STUDY OF A SMALL SUB-URBAN COMMUNITYMBAYANI
HISTORICAL BACKGROUNDBLANTYRE
Blantyre is located in the Southern region of Malawi.It is the
commercial and industrial capital of the country.It was founded in
1876 by Scottish missionaries, and named after the birthplace of
David Livingstone in Scotland.Blantyre became a township in 1895
and was combined as the municipality of Blantyre-Limbe in 1956.It
became a city in 1966
The Blantyre CBD
MBAYANI:
HISTORICAL BACKGROUNDMbayani is a high density informal
settlement 2km north-east of the Blantyre CBD along Zalewa road.It
originally developed as village stretching from the North East of
Likhubula river (Near the present mount Soche hotel) to Chirimba
stream, thus forming a boundary with Kameza village.The first
people to settle there are said to have been the Ngonis who came
from the North to trade cattle at the CBDIt earned its name from
the tumbuka term Mbayani meaning Who are they a phrase that was
often directed at immigrants.
MERITSPROXIMITY TO CBD -This is advantageous for low income
earners who can easily commute to and from the business zone by
foot.
ACCESIBILITY VIA ZALEWA AND M-1 ROADS - This allows for easy
transportation of goods to and from the settlement
AVAILABILITY OF CHEAP LOCAL SERVICES AND GOODS - Such as house
rentals as low as MK 500 per month.
CAPACITY TO ACCOMMODATE LIVESTOCK -Mbayani can accommodate
livestock due to the substantial amount of natural vegetation
available.
AFFORDABILITY OF LAND - The slum nature of the settlement allows
for relatively cheap and hence easily affordable land for
settlement. It therefore provides an ideal residential area for low
income earners.DEMERITSPOPULATION DENSITY IS EXTREMELY HIGH - This
makes the settlement overcrowded and uncomfortable to live in in
terms of privacy as the units are very close together.
THERE IS INADEQUACY OF BASIC SERVICES SUCH AS TAP WATER AND
ELECTRICITY - This is due to the highly undulating land which would
make water piping difficult to install and pumping very costly.
EDUCATION AND MEDICAL SERVICES ARE HIGHLY LIMITED -There is only
one school catering to the whole settlements children and this
proves inadequate as it cannot accommodate all of them. There are
only two clinics which besides their small size lack many health
amenities for treatment of other cases.
HIGH CRIME RATES - This is chiefly due to the slum nature of the
settlement as well as absence of law enforcement giving rise to
vandals/thieves.
LACKOF SECURITY -This is due to the absence of a police station
in the area or any local security scheme to protect citizens
from
DIFFICULTY EXERCISING AGRONOMICAL ACTIVITIES - This is due to
the rocky and thin nature of the soils.
DIFFICULTY CONSTRUCTING HOUSES - This is due to the highly
undulating topography of the settlement that makes some of the
greatly sloped land difficult to build on using traditional
materials.
POOR SANITATION - Due to the absence of sewer systems, which
leads to improperly disposed of sewage waste, ie; mass accumulation
of grey water outside latrines leading to air pollution and
outburst of diseases such as cholera.
WATER, AIR AND NOISE POLLUTION - Due to improperly disposed of
waste water, carbon gas from widespread use of wood and charcoal
burners, and noise from maize mills and bars playing loud
music.
POOR UNMORTARED MAIN ROAD - This results in air pollution by
dust in the commercial zone caused by vehicles as well as high
accident risk during the rainy season when the road is muddy and
sliperly.
LANDSCAPEThe land is highly undulating, with thin rocky
soils.The settlement has both indigenous and exotic trees.There is
one small main stream and some intermittent streams running from
it
ZONING/ PLANNINGThe area is zoned into 3: *The Residential Zone,
consisting of homes, *The Commercial Zone, consisting of the local
market, *The Institutional Zone, consisting of the school and
clinics.Planning is portrayed by the systematic location of the
school, which is centralized in the area for easy accessibility by
convergence.It is also located away from the commercial area to
reduce risk of accidents for pupils and avoid noises for effective
learning.Planning is also portrayed in the systematic location of
the clinic, along the M-1 road for easy accessibility.
KEY:Brown-pathsPurple- main roadKhaki- M-1Beige- RailwayGreeen-
Veg
LAND OWNERSHIPIn Mbayani the land is believed to be owned by the
chieftain along with various elder citizens that are entitled to
the land.Culturally land is thereby obtained by conferring to the
chief with a consultation fee and after negotiations paying the
charged amount. After that one may begin to develop the land.
However in actuality, this settlement developed on private,
public and customary land.The Private land was owned by the Asians
and the Malawi Housing Corporation.The Public land was owned by the
Ministry of Lands and Ministry of AgricultureThe Customary land was
owned by the Blantyre City Assembly
LAND USE AND PATHS
Land is used mainly for residential purposesSome of it is also
used for commercial purposes in terms of the market, entertainment
considering the bars and video show roomsOther parts have been used
for mosques, the clinic, churches and the school.There are two
other roads besides the M-1A railway line also passes through the
area
