In spite of the appalling levels of poverty in Malawi, the country’s urbanization rates continue to rise steadily. Several other countries similarly classified as Malawi amongst the Least Developed Countries do identify with this phenomenon. Various researchers have cited the poverty as being a catalyst in undermining the authorities’ capacity to address the myriad of challenges that follow from such sustained urbanization rates.
Mzuzu City is an urban Centre which has been billed as one of the fastest growing Centres in Malawi. A very recent trip to Mzuzu and a review of statistics confirmed this. During this trip, it was very clear that the authorities are struggling to deal with the urbanization trend, most probably so, because of the afore-said economic limitations. The vast proportion of public spaces such as streets and empty spaces remain littered and security is not always guaranteed. Quite a significant proportion of urban traders ply their business uninsured and very recently, this status quo exacerbated the plight of the Mzuzu Market fire victims. The City’s urban building control structures seem to be particularly weak. It is not very clear whether or not the City does have any properly constituted building regulations knowing that Malawi as a country, does not yet have National Building Regulations. This might explain the actualization of a number of iconically ugly building designs and the barricaded shop fronts in the City. This article takes up issue with the later.
On a walk along the narrow streets of Mzuzu City, one feels like they are walking deep inside a war zone. Most, if not all of the shop fronts are heavily barricaded behind thick metal sheets and plywood panels.
Prior to July, 2011, the same could not have been said of the shop fronts. The rioting which ensued in the aftermath of the country wide demonstrations led to massive looting and destruction of property. In efforts to rebuild and avoid a repeat of such losses, most traders resorted to barricading their shop fronts.
In the short term, the barricading efforts paid off massively to the traders in terms of enhanced security of their trading premises and merchandise. On the general urban fabric, this revolutionary effort brought about some unsightly views to the general public.
In the long term, the barricaded shop fronts may translate into increased energy demand for use in space lighting and thermal environment control. Such barricading may also render the buildings’ occupation unsafe as it effectively limits emergency escape to the access entrance only. In the developed world, such barricading has been noted to increase a feeling of insecurity for pedestrians, especially after night fall.
Much as shop security is important to the traders, it is also very important to consider the wide ranging impacts of the measures that are employed to achieve it. Barricading the shop fronts is a sure way to enhance security, but it should not come with a cost of unsightly urban views, increased energy demands and unsafe urban environments. A compromise ought to be found, one that seeks to provide an optimum balance between the conflicting parameters.
Two approaches can be suggested in this regard. To begin with, the shop owners may consider adopting the use of toughened and laminated glass. This kind of glass can accord high levels of security without much disturbance to the street views. The glass is made so strong that it cannot be easily broken having thicknesses of up to 4cm.
Internal grilles or open shutters would be another alternative. Coupled with toughened glass, these grilles can also provide the much needed security while simultaneously allowing the filtration of light onto the streets. The space between the grilles and the window can be used for illuminated displays.
In future, maybe when our poverty levels subside, the urban authorities may wish to start closely monitoring such minute details about City life as shop fronts’ appearances. In the meantime, the shop owners should bring back the glorious days of window shopping in Mzuzu City.
AMOS KALUA 