Smart, sustainable cities can happen without corruption

Dear judge Mbadwa,

As everyone else was last week honouring the country’s martyrs, my attention, my lord, was drawn to the sentiments made by Nyasaland Minister of Local Government Professor Madalitso Chiunyolo last Wednesday in the capital that he is looking forward to smart and sustainable cities, which can stand the adverse effects of climate change. That was a bold statement from the affable man of letters.

This excited me, my lord, because I envisioned the clutter of settlements called Kabula, Lilongwe, eMzuzu and Zomba, which pass for cities, rightly being ranked or classified after being transformed.

His argument is that urban centres such as cities are hubs of economic prosperity; hence, crucial in reducing the worsening urban poverty.

My lord, my rudimentary understanding of a smart city is the one that has embraced technological infrastructure with an aim to “develop, deploy and nurture sustainable operations” to meet the growing urban needs.

Forgive my rumbling on the matter and the apparent disconnection to issues that your court should be addressing, but Professor Chiunyolo’s ambitions should ordinary excite any well-meaning Nyasa.

The only challenge, my lord, is that dealing with the analogous minds within councils to bring that needed change is a tall order that the professor has to contend with.

Firstly, the political question has to be addressed on who really calls the shots in as far as urban development is concerned.

My lord, council politics has always been an impediment to proper town planning. Councillors and, mostly parties in power, with their short-term view of development, are keen to implement smuggled in plans that would perpetuate their stay in power at the expense of the city master plans.

Do you remember how many times individual cities made decisions to chase vendors from the streets only to be given respite by politicians?

I don’t imagine a smart and sustainable city which has vendors roasting green maize and selling sugarcane in the busiest street of the central business district.

As we speak, my lord, buildings that were marked with a red star because they were meant to be demolished have just worn new paints and nothing has happened and I hear your court is yet to determine on this issue.

My lord, how is the esteemed professor going to deal with the issue of land grabbing and illegal structures, which is promoted by people with political connections?

Wasn’t it a couple of weeks ago that we heard that politically connected people were sharing land that does not belong to them as if it were some banana fritters?

My lord, how is Chiunyolo going to deal with corrupt city officials who connive with the elite to erect ugly warehouse-like buildings in places not designated for them?

My lord, I like the proposition, but unless we get rid of the maggots in the system, we will be moving in circles again and again.

But good luck to the professor, though!

Regards,

John Citizen.

With Emmanuel LucianoFeedback: whatsapp 09 99 253 633