One sun-drenched afternoon, whilst journeying from Lilongwe back to Blantyre, I opted for the bypass route. Departing from Old Town, I steered towards Likuni and merged onto the bypass at the roundabout near Chinsapo. Barely 200 metres in, a pair of traffic policemen flagged me down. They had set up a speed trap and claimed I was exceeding the speed limit.
I found myself in a bit of a pickle. I could not confirm nor contest their accusation as I had not the foggiest idea what the speed limit was on that particular stretch. What struck me as particularly baffling was that, despite driving through Area 3, there was not a single signpost to alert motorists they were approaching the bypass, let alone inform them of the maximum speed permitted. Only in Malawi, one might say.
Back in the day as one cruised along the Chikwawa Road towards Blantyre City, a prominent signpost at Green Corner warmly welcomed travellers to the city, urging them to “observe the speed limits in the city.” Yet, curiously, as the journey continued towards the heart of Blantyre’s Business District, not a single sign indicated what those speed limits actually were. The ambiguity left one pondering; which speed limits were we meant to observe as per the grand proclamation at Green Corner? It is one of those uniquely Malawian mysteries that leave you both amused and bemused.
Perhaps, once upon a time, those vital signposts stood tall along our roads, only to fall victim to the relentless hands of vandals. Yet, such misfortune can hardly serve as an excuse for the glaring absence of crucial information on our thoroughfares. In my view, it is far better to inundate citizens with an abundance of information—so that if they err, it is not due to ignorance—than to leave them starved of guidance, only to be caught off guard by policemen accusing them of breaching speed limits they were never made aware of.
One of the officers stationed along the bypass road declared, “The speed limit here is 60 kilometres per hour. All roads in town have that limit.” While it is plausible that urban roads adhere to a standard speed limit, it begs the question; is the bypass road truly within the town’s confines, or does it merely skirt its perimeter? Such distinctions are crucial for motorists to understand. To me, the bypass road resembles London’s M25—a ring road encircling the city rather than weaving through its heart. Clarity on such matters is not just helpful; it is essential.
As a youngster, I often found myself bemused by those signs affixed to gates proclaiming, Chenjerani ndi agaru (beware of dogs). I used to ponder: “Aren’t these homeowners giving away their secret? Surely, the presence of guard dogs should be a concealed advantage. Let the would-be intruder find out the hard way!” In my youthful mind, the element of surprise was paramount; the idea of advertising one’s defences seemed counterintuitive.
I now realise I was mistaken. The purpose of those Chenjerani ndi agalu signs was not to give away a secret, but to provide a fair warning. It is far better for individuals to be well-informed, so that if they encounter misfortune, it is from a position of knowledge. After all, knowledge is power. When people are appropriately informed, they have the choice to heed the warning or ignore it at their own peril.
Elsewhere in the world, when the police are patrolling a section of the highway, signposts abound, informing motorists of their presence. If a driver errs, it is a conscious choice, made despite ample warning. Here, however, the approach seems to be one of surprise—capitalising on the scant information available on our roads. It is as if the authorities prefer to catch motorists unawares, rather than fostering a culture of informed compliance.
I am aware that our culture is deeply rooted in oral traditions, but certain information simply must be inscribed and prominently displayed. It is unreasonable to expect motorists to guess the speed limits between Green Corner and Blantyre City Centre, for instance. The onus lies with the relevant authorities to provide clear signage and to promptly replace any that fall victim to vandalism or other misfortunes.
Let us dutifully search within our cities, identifying every missing or obscured signpost that leaves motorists in the dark. Once we have catalogued these gaps, we must promptly inform the relevant city authorities and request the installation of clear, durable signage in their place. If we truly value orderliness and the safety of our communities, this is not merely a suggestion, it is a civic imperative.
