The minister made these remarks during the 2023 Christmas tree candle-lighting ceremony at the parliament roundabout in Lilongwe, which was organized by the Lilongwe City Ecological Corridor Initiative, where he said this was a new beginning for the city to become green.

According to the minister Blessings Chinsinga, cities cannot be constructed on bare grounds, which he said environmentally, are not friendly therefore construction of a modern Lilongwe city should have all that in mind.

Chinsinga said replacing and growing more trees will contribute to the tourism sector, enhance socio-ecologic value, and even the country’s development goals.

“This function is very important and unique because it is particularly marking a new beginning for the city, especially in our efforts to make Lilongwe green and clean. This in a broader way is part of what we are trying to do in the local government sector to ensure that we have smart cities which are ecologically and environmentally sustainable,” he said.

Chairperson of the Lilongwe City Ecological Corridor Initiative Zilani Gondwe said it is sad Lilongwe is known as a dust city, but after Mibawa trees were cleared for construction on Kenyata and Mzimba Drive, there is a great need to replace trees that are also a tourist addition.

Gondwe urged developers and residents to plan and develop with bio-diversity in mind if the city is to be ecologically friendly while playing an economic role.

“Following the cutting down of mibawa trees, we immediately realized that we had to restore the balance of nature. Lilongwe is known as a dust city, but it wasn’t built to be a dusty city, a garden city and we needed to restore that. Last year, we began with our partners the Botanic Gardens, and the Lilongwe City Council to plant mibawa seedlings, so we have 50,000 mibawa and 100,000 indigenous-year-old seedlings which alongside the infrastructure development will make the city desirable and habitable,” said Gondwe.

Mayor of the city Richard Banda called upon partners to support the initiative if investors are to be attracted and erect infrastructure that will turn the city into a modern one.

“To the stakeholders, we say support us. We need more investors to come in to assist us to plant and take care of the seedlings. Actually, everyone should take part in replanting the trees so that the capital city is environmentally befitting,” said the mayor.

The initiative is expected to create an enjoyable, green, clean, and prosperous city.