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Zambezi River Basin countries share similar
settlement patterns characterized by both low
and high densities. While the basin is largely
rural, urbanization rates are high. In Botswana
and Angola, urban population constitute more
than 60 per cent (SADC and SARDC 2008), and is
projected to exceed 80 per cent by 2050 (UN-
HABITAT 2010). At just more than 25 per cent
(UN-HABITAT 2010), Malawi is the least urbanized
country in the basin, and yet the most densely
populated. The majority of Malawi’s urban
residents live in the major towns of Blantyre,
Lilongwe, Mzuzu and Zomba (Chenje 2000).
Mining is the key driver of Zambia’s
urbanization. As a result, 85 per cent of the
country’s urban residents are concentrated
Urbanization
Located on the Zambezi River, Tete is the provincial capital of Mozambique’s Tete
Province. A prominent feature of the city is the one-kilometre suspension bridge
Lilongwe is the capital city of Malawi. The city started as a small village along Lilongwe River. In 1977 the city’s population was estimated at
about 99 000, and this grew to 781 500 in 2012. Expansion of the city has resulted in the deforestation of large surrounding areas due to the