Blantyre is becoming Malawi’s second dusty city
after Lilongwe. The challenge is that no one is talking about dust in Blantyre,
Malawi’s oldest city.
Yet dust is all over, visible and touchable, in the city. Even outside the city, as far as Chileka, Nguludi and Mapanga, dust is becoming a daily occurrence. Those who have lived long in Blantyre can testify.
Houses are all over where once were written the words “Long live Kamuzu” on Soche Hill. The fall of first president Dr Hastings Kamuzu Banda was also the fall of trees in Blantyre.
Over two decades ago, Blantyre residents used to mock Lilongwe for its dust. It was a relief for everyone to move from Lilongwe to Blantyre. Then, there was no dust in Blantyre. Now, a little over two decades later, I see Blantyre becoming dusty, slowly but for sure.
Yet dust is all over, visible and touchable, in the city. Even outside the city, as far as Chileka, Nguludi and Mapanga, dust is becoming a daily occurrence. Those who have lived long in Blantyre can testify.
Blantyre, once a symbol of Malawi’s small but
growing manufacturing industry, cherished mountains covered with green carpets
of tree tops. Soche Hill was all green. So, too, Ndirande Mountain.
Such was the Blantyre I found in 1991 after a year
in Lilongwe. But now Ndirande Mountain is bare. Soche Hill has a few trees on
the very top and houses below. Houses are all over where once were written the words “Long live Kamuzu” on Soche Hill. The fall of first president Dr Hastings Kamuzu Banda was also the fall of trees in Blantyre.
Over two decades ago, Blantyre residents used to mock Lilongwe for its dust. It was a relief for everyone to move from Lilongwe to Blantyre. Then, there was no dust in Blantyre. Now, a little over two decades later, I see Blantyre becoming dusty, slowly but for sure.
It could be climate change. But it could also be
that we have cut trees. Or both and, of course, other reasons.
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