When roads give up, so do journeys: Inside Blantyre’s daily struggle with bad roads

The journey to work, school, or the nearest market has quietly turned into a test of endurance for many residents in parts of Blantyre.

What used to be short, predictable trips are now longer, costlier, and often uncertain, as badly damaged roads continue to disrupt daily life and chip away at already fragile livelihoods.

A Malawi24 tour across several residential areas paints a troubling picture.

Roads once covered in tar are now scarred with deep potholes, while in other places the surface has completely disappeared, leaving behind dusty, uneven paths in the dry season and muddy traps when it rains.

In some communities, residents have taken matters into their own hands, filling potholes with mud and stones just to keep vehicles moving, a temporary fix that speaks volumes about the lack of lasting solutions.

To paint a clearer picture of the situation, below is a pictorial focus showcasing some of the affected roads across the city.

Kwacha Round About with deep potholes

Once tarred road to Ndirande Hill Secondary School

Kamba road: A teenager collecting money from motorists after fixing potholes with mud

Manyowe Road

Mbayani Road

Kampala Road: No sign that it was once tarred

For drivers like Thom Liwanda, who operates a minibus between Nancholi and Limbe, the damage is not just on the roads, it is on his livelihood. Each trip has become a gamble, where every pothole threatens his vehicle and income.

“These roads are destroying our vehicles every day. We spend more money on repairs than we make. Sometimes we are forced to delay trips or avoid certain routes altogether because they are impassable,” he said.

Passengers are feeling the impact too. In Manase, along the once busy Kampala Road, Linda Tiyese Phiri says the road’s deterioration has effectively cut the community off from reliable public transport. Minibuses, she explains, no longer complete the journey.

Nancholi-Chikwawa road after Mudi river. At the junction road to Mount Pleasant CCAP church

“Minibuses now drop us at the village junction along the Chikwawa Road. From there, we are forced to walk. It is very difficult, especially for the elderly and those carrying goods,” she said. What used to be a routine commute has become a daily burden.

Across the city, similar stories echo from one township to another. Among the most affected routes is the stretch from Manase Police to Nancholi, where the tar has completely vanished, leaving behind a rough track that barely resembles a road.

Manyowe Road

Manyowe Road, Mbayani Road, Ndirande Hill Secondary School Road, some stretch along Machinjiri road and the Limbe-Kanjedza-Chitawira Road have also deteriorated significantly, turning what should be key access routes into daily obstacles and slowing down economic activity in surrounding communities.

But what does the council say about the worsening road situation? BCC’s Director of Engineering Services, Chimwemwe Ndelemani, admits the problem is deep-rooted, noting that most roads in the city have outlived their lifespan.

Generally, most of our roads in Blantyre have surpassed their life span, requiring major rehabilitation. The main affected roads are in residential areas and some access roads within the city,” he said.

Looking ahead, Ndelemani says the council has plans to begin addressing the problem within the current financial year, with a shift in approach aimed at improving durability.

Road connecting Mbayani and Blantyre town via Mount Soche Hotel

“We plan to rehabilitate major roads within this financial year. We are also shifting from asphalt surfaced roads in residential areas to concrete surfaced roads, which are more durable when properly constructed,” he explained, adding that prioritization will depend on traffic volume and the strategic importance of each road.

He further indicated that residents should expect a mix of interventions, including resealing of damaged asphalt surfaced roads, construction of concrete roads, as well as gravelling and grading of earth roads.

Ndelemani also noted that funding remains a major challenge, with the council relying mainly on the Constituency Development Fund and the Road Fund Administration, which are not sufficient to meet the city’s infrastructure demands.

He, however, expressed optimism that the recent increase in the Constituency Development Fund allocation from K200 million to K5 billion per constituency will significantly contribute towards improving road infrastructure in Blantyre.

Within Blantyre town at Krazy Foods

For now, residents have no choice but to navigate the broken roads as best they can, adjusting their routines, stretching their already tight budgets, and holding onto hope that one day the roads that connect their lives will no longer stand in their way.