The Malawi Government has announced plans to rehabilitate Chipoka Inland Port in Salima District as part of efforts to restore the facility’s role as a key hub for trade and economic activity.
Minister of Transport and Public Works, Feston Kaupa, disclosed the development during an inspection visit to the port, where he led a delegation of senior government officials.
Kaupa said the administration of President Arthur Peter Mutharika views maritime transport as a critical driver of trade and economic growth.
“Revitalizing our ports is crucial for boosting commerce and creating employment opportunities. Chipoka Port has immense potential that we intend to harness,” he said.
Kaupa added that reopening the port would help reduce logistics costs for petroleum products and other essential cargo, which are currently transported by road at high cost.
Once a major centre of trade along the shores of Salima South, Chipoka Port has been inactive for more than a decade due to severe siltation and persistently low water levels, making it unsafe for vessels to dock.
During the same tour, Kaupa also visited Monkey Bay Port, where potential investors expressed readiness to introduce a modern vessel on Lake Malawi to complement the iconic MV Ilala, which has been ferrying passengers and cargo across the lake since 1951.
Meanwhile, Director of Ports and Shipping in the Marine Department, Joseph Banda, welcomed the planned developments, saying they have the potential to transform the country’s marine transport sector and enhance regional connectivity.
