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President Edgar Lungu confers the City Chain to Chipata Mayor Sinoya Mwale….PICTURE BY SALIM HENRY/STATE HOUSE ©2017
President Edgar Lungu has conferred city status on Chipata district in eastern province, a proclamation which will come into effect tomorrow, 25th February, 2017.
Speaking during the proclamation ceremony in Chipata today, President Lungu says Chipata has met all the requisites needed for a town to graduate from a municipality to a city, such as having a population of not less than 200,000, having a well defined central business district with modern amenities and facilities including shopping malls and financial institutions such as banks.
President Lungu says the city status conferred on Chipata means that the profile of the municipality has been raised to a standard where Chipata should be able to attract investment in areas where the district has comparative advantage.
He adds that this also means that there will be improved public service delivery, both municipal as well as other public services to the residents of Chipata and the province as a whole.
President Lungu says Chipata can take advantage of its locality in relation to Malawi to ensure that there is close and enhanced cross-border trade, through the Chipata-Mchinji railway.
He states that the proclamation of Chipata as a city is a response to the numerous appeals presented to him sine 2 years ago from the people of Chipata demanding city status.
President Lungu has since implored Chipata residents to play their part in ensuring that Chipata succeeds as a city.