Chipoka Logistics and Industrial Hub

As part of the Malawi Secondary Cities Plan (MSCP) the Salima/Chipoka masterplan is being developed as a pilot secondary city, among the eight identified.

The Chipoka Port Infrastructure Development Program is phase one among a list of projects for Salima/Chipoka. A compendium of projects across several related sectors, is designed to transform the economic and urbanization status of the Salima district. In line with ‘Malawi 2063’ developed by the Malawi National Planning Commission (NPC) as it strives to propel processes of urbanization, industrialization, economic infrastructure as well as agriculture productivity and commercialization, the project identifies opportunities for the rehabilitation and leverage of existing nationally critical assets. In this case a lake port and fisheries development, enhanced by investments in infrastructure and land development for the benefit of large populations and multiple stakeholders.

The case for secondary cities development in Salima/Chipoka

Chipoka is the closest waterfront to the capital city of Lilongwe. It is also the only point in the country where rail and lake waterfront meet. Chipoka is close by and intrinsically connected to Salima, an urban administrative hub, via rail, as well as Senga Bay, a touristic hub with great potential for developments and expansion. The rehabilitation and development of the port district with industrial, fisheries and passenger facilities would transform Chipoka into the national and regional center for industry and logistics. The establishment of a major fisheries sector at Chipoka would also provide economic diversification for smallholder farmers in the area as well as support food diversification programs. Furthermore, the areas beaches and natural beauty would allow for the development of a commercial waterfront attracting both local and international tourists.

Prioritization for Development

Designed as a cluster for development, several projects are being developed in Chipoka, catalyzed by the Chipoka port redevelopment and the establishment of a formalized fisheries sector. The projects have been grouped as hubs and spokes. As part of the “hub”, a list of projects has been established including a fishing boat docking and repair shop, an industrial processing, packaging, cold storage, cage farms facilities, a wholesale fish market, lakefront training and research facilities, an aquarium, and small aquaculture farming communities.
As for the “spoke” projects, they include a fingerlings hatchery, fish feeding milling and commercial aquaculture farms.