The M3 road, also known partially as the

Blantyre Blantyre is Malawi's centre of finance and commerce, and its second largest city, with a population of 800,264 . It is sometimes referred to as the commercial and industrial capital of Malawi as opposed to the political capital, Lilongwe. It is ...

- Zomba road, is a road in

Malawi Malawi, officially the Republic of Malawi, is a landlocked country in Southeastern Africa. It is bordered by Zambia to the west, Tanzania to the north and northeast, and Mozambique to the east, south, and southwest. Malawi spans over and ...

. The road stretches across the southern region of Malawi, tracing a north-south path that spans 236 kilometers. Beginning in the bustling city of Blantyre, the route winds its way through the scenic landscape to Mangochi, before continuing onward to the Mozambican border at Chiponde, providing a connection between the two countries. The M3 road is included in the Malawi National Transport Master Plan.

History

The M3 has historically played a role in connecting key cities in Malawi, particularly during the country's formative years. Zomba, the former capital of

Nyasaland Nyasaland () was a British protectorate in Africa that was established in 1907 when the former British Central Africa Protectorate changed its name. Between 1953 and 1963, Nyasaland was part of the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland. After ...

and later Malawi, held significant political importance until 1974 when the capital was relocated to

Lilongwe Lilongwe (, ,) is the capital and largest city of Malawi. It has a population of 989,318 as of the 2018 Census, up from a population of 674,448 in 2008. In 2020, that figure was 1,122,000. The city is located in the central region of Malawi, i ...

. However, it wasn't until 1994 that the parliament officially made the move. Meanwhile, Blantyre remained the country's commercial and industrial hub, a status it still maintains today. Notably, a road linking Blantyre and Zomba dates back to 1893, and by the time Malawi gained independence in 1964, this route was the only major paved road in the country, underscoring its importance in the nation's early development. A major overhaul of the Blantyre-Zomba Road took place between 2013 and 2015, featuring the upgrade of small bridges and culverts to ensure a smoother journey. Meanwhile, two significant bridges along the route underwent modernization: the Liwonde bridge over the

Shire River The Shire is the largest river in Malawi. It is the only outlet of Lake Malawi and flows into the Zambezi River in Mozambique. Its length is . The upper Shire River issues from Lake Malawi and runs approximately before it enters shallow Lake Malo ...

, originally opened in 1965, was replaced with a brand-new structure in 2018, while the

Mangochi Mangochi is a township in the Southern Region, Malawi, Southern Region of Malawi. Located near the southern end of Lake Malawi, in History of Malawi, colonial times it used to be called Fort Johnston. As of 2018, it has a population of 53,498. ...

bridge was upgraded to a sturdy concrete box bridge as far back as 1999, enhancing the overall safety and efficiency of this vital transportation artery.

Route directions

The M3 road embarks on its journey in the eastern part of Blantyre, branching off from the M2. From there, it charts a northerly course, winding its way through the scenic landscape at an elevation of approximately 1,000 meters to reach the charming town of Zomba. Rather than traversing a mountain pass, the road skillfully navigates around the island mountain ranges to the north of Zomba. As it descends to an altitude of around 500 meters, the M3 crosses the Shire River in Liwonde and continues its northward trajectory along the western shores of Lake Malombe. The road then converges with the M10 in the town of Mangochi, where it shifts eastward, crossing the Shire River once more. A steep incline follows, elevating the road back up to the plateau at nearly 1,000 meters. While the M3 remains paved up to the border town of Chiponde, the final stretch to Mozambique is unpaved. On the Mozambican side, the N13 seamlessly continues as a paved road, leading onward to

Cuamba Cuamba is a city and district of Niassa Province in Mozambique, lying north west of Mount Namuli. Before independence the town was known as ''Nova Freixo'' (New Ash). It lies on the EN8 road, which connects it to the city of Nampula in the east ...

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:M3 road (Malawi) Roads in Malawi Southern Region, Malawi Northern Region, Malawi Central Region, Malawi

History

Route directions

See also

References