Speaking during the workshop, Dr Burnet Mkandawire explained that this project is a four-year collaborative, involving nine cities in seven countries which ensures that residents have clean and safe water plus good transport system.

“This research project has been aimed at addressing the challenges and providing accessible, timely, applicable and physical planning information that is needed by the decision makers that are responsible in Southern Africa,” Mkandawire said.

The Principal of the Malawi Polytechnic Professor Grant Kululanga in his opening remarks commended the audience for sharing information for the betterment of the cities.

“Knowledge is important for the University to share imperative information that has been discovered. We wish to make sure that with climate change our cities should be resilient. Water should be responsibly used so that we should be able to have quality water through our pipes,” he explained.

Professor Kululanga further observed that if universities discover information and not use it, it is the same as not discovering it at all.

The Director of Human Resources at the Blantyre City Council Alfred Nyengo explained that the Blantyre City Assembly has a big role to play in ensuring that residents have access to clean water, roads and good transport system.

Nyengo acknowledged the FRACTAL project citing that it is one way of helping residents acquire good and improved services regardless of climate change.

Dereck Mamiwa, Tawina Mlowa, and Associate Professor Bernard Thole made presentations on various projects under FRACTAL.