Zambezi River Basin

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