Balaka Township, Malawi
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Balaka, population 14,298 (1998), is a township in Southern Region, Malawi and headquarters for the Balaka District. The township was formerly a boma of Machinga District, before the Balaka District was created in 1998.
A growing commercial center on the road from Zomba to Lilongwe, as well as on a Blantyre-Salima rail route. The immediate trading centres that surround Balaka are Ntcheu, Phalula, Liwonde and Ulongwe.
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[edit] Transport
In 2004, the passenger terminals were renovated, and now features recreational bars and several hawkers and restaurants that serve passengers on excursions. Telephone bureaus and cyber cafes are available for emergency communications.
Just opposite the entrance to the bus park, there is a yard where taxis park ready for transporting people to any desired destination. There are also lorries are hired for heavy goods.
There is a rail line that passes through the town. It helps people make use of cheap transport to Blantyre and other nearby places. Its route to Lilongwe via Salima was closed and is yet to be reopened.
[edit] Business
Notable fast growing businesses are transportation, operating shops, timber selling, and most technical jobs. The market in Balaka is not very big and most of the things that are available on the market are food stuffs and clothes. It is a modern market of Malawi standard and can accommodate many vendors even though most of them prefer to sell their things outside the market. There are also a variety of shops which keep in stock different items. Some of these shops are hardware shops, Groceries, and others that specialise in clothes.
There are five well-known supperettes in Balaka town: Metro shop, Peoples, Palm Supperette, Four Ways Supperette and Seven Star. All these supperettes provide good items to the locals.
Balaka has only two known banks. There is Stanbic Bank (now Standard Bank) just opposite the main Mosque. Another one is Malawi Savings Bank which operates within the Post Office.
[edit] Religion
Balaka is a town and district that has people of mixed religious beliefs. However, around the town, most people are Christians. Moslems are many as well but constitute slightly a smaller percentage as compared to Christians. Major Christian churches in Balaka are Catholic, Church of Central Africa Presbyterian, Anglican, Seventh Day Adventist, Lutheran, and Nazarene.
[edit] The Catholic Church
It is called St Louis Montfort catholic parish. The church was officially opened on 30 October 1994 by the late bishop Alessandro Assolarri. Present on the day were the former Malawi president Bakili Muluzi and the former Tanzanian president late Julius Nyerere.
[edit] Church of Central African Presbyterian
Church of Central African Presbyterian (or CCAP) is another big denomination that has a big following in Balaka. It is situated behind the sports stadium in the heart of Balaka. There are new constructions of a new church building which is to replace the old and small prayer house.
[edit] Anglican
Is situated next to Seventh Day and the Mosque. It attracts many followers as well but its prayer house is small and old. The site where Anglican church is found has many other churches as well including Seventh Day Adventist, Nazarene, and the Mosque.
[edit] Education
Balaka has a number of education institutions ranging from primary to tertiary levels. Notable primary schools that offer quality education include Bakhita Primary, Praise Private, St. Augustine Primary, St. Louis Montfort Primary, and Kirk Range Private. Secondary schools that are recognised for quality education are Bakhita Girls, St Charles Lwanga Boys, Balaka Secondary School, Kirk Range Private, and St. Louis Secondary school. All these are in proximity of not more than 3 km². Tertiary education is also available. However, formal schools that offer tertiary education are all branches of Andiamo Youth Cooperative.
[edit] Technical College
This college enrols students who wish to become motor vehicle mechanics, architects, carpenters with Joinery skills, electricians, and musicians.
[edit] Dental College
This college enrols students who wish to become dentists. The college is within Comfort Clinics compound. It is managed by an Italian specialist who has currently 4 students.
[edit] Accounts and Secretariat Studies
These courses are offered at Bakhita where the secondary school is found.
[edit] Entertainment and Leisure
For recreation and leisure, visitors and locals make pleasure at places like Mlambe Motel which is just next to Balaka Post Office. Another place where people recreate is Zembani Lodge which is few metres from the stadium. Other places include bars like Phekani, Masamba Bise, Chiyembekezo Motel, Aunt fletcher Bar, Aunt ruth Bar, Modern Bottle store owned by Master chitabwino.
Over the weekend, locals organise discotheques and teen times. However, live band performances attract more people that discos.
Balaka is a home to two big bands in Malawi: Alleluya Band which belongs to Andiamo Youth Cooperative, and Zembani Band which is owned by Balaka North MP, Lucius Banda.
[edit] Press
Balaka is home to Montfort Media, one of the more prominent printing presses in Malawi. Popular magazines produced by this press are Together Magazine (a youth magazine) and The Lamp, a political journal. Back in 1992, the press was set ablaze by “ayufi” (MCP thugs) after it had published a pastoral letter written by Malawi bishops against one party rule.[citation needed]
By Wawona Waluza & Fredrick Chatsika
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