BCC names 2 000 streets, to extend city boundaries

Blantyre City Council (BCC) has named over 2 000 streets in the city.

BCC director of planning Costly Chanza said so far most streets in Chigumula, New Naperi, Sunnyside, Mount Pleasant, Mpingwe and Namiwawa have been named.

Chanza said the streets are named after famous people, rivers and other physical features in the areas.

He said the exercise, popularly known as physical address system, will soon go to high density areas in the city.

Chanza said lack of proper addressing system impacts negatively on service delivery and business operations.

“Without a proper addressing system, companies, courier operators and commercial banks have to establish a complex identification mechanism of people involving third party references,” he said.

The director of planning also said plans to extend the boundaries of the city are in the pipeline as much of its land has now been used up.

“We need additional land because the areas suggested for the city growth have been used.

“We are currently in touch with government to get additional land towards Lunzu,” said Chanza.

In the first half of 2013, the council wants to implement the one way traffic system aimed at reducing congestion and improving accessibility in the city.

The council has many other projects such as the Millennium Cities Initiative to help people in informal settlements perk up their livelihoods.

“Through this project, people in different communities within the city do participatory work in their respective areas meant to improve their lives,” he said.

BCC is a local authority responsible for provision of municipal services to the citizens living within Blantyre City boundaries.