In a robust effort to promote public safety and protect critical infrastructure, the Ministry of Transport and Public Works (MoTPW) has rolled out a nationwide railway safety awareness campaign across all districts with both active and dormant railway lines.
The initiative is part of Malawi’s Annual Commemoration of Railway Safety Week, which began on 20th October 2025 and ends on 26th October 2025, under the theme “"Stop Vandalism and Encroachments: Safe Railways, Safe Communities — Everyone's Duty.
In a press statement issued on Monday, 20th October 2025, Secretary for Transport and Public Works, Mr. Bright Kumwembe, emphasized that Malawi observes Railway Safety Week not merely as a member obligation under the Southern Africa Railways Association (SARA), but more importantly, as a testament to its unwavering commitment to reduce rail-related fatalities.
“Rail transport remains a vital pillar of national development. However, unsafe practices such as trespassing, vandalism, and illegal encroachments continue to threaten lives, disrupt services, and undermine national progress. Trespassing on railway tracks—whether for shortcuts, grazing, or casual walking—is both dangerous and illegal,” said Kumwembe.
The Department of Railway Services (DRS), under the Ministry, is spearheading the sensitization drive in collaboration with District Councils and in partnership with the railway operator, Central East African Railways (CEAR).
According to Engineer Geoffrey Magwede, Director of Railway Services, districts that have already launched the campaign include Nsanje, Blantyre, Thyolo, Machinga, Balaka, Salima, Neno, and Lilongwe.
A central theme of the campaign is to highlight the hazards of encroachment on railway tracks. The public is being sensitized on legal railway reserves, which, by law, span 45 meters from the center of the track along the Nayuchi–Kachaso section, and 30 meters along the Marka–Mchinji corridor. Any form of construction, farming, or trading within these protected corridors is strictly prohibited and subject to enforcement actions.
“Railway Safety Week offers a critical platform to educate the public on these legal boundaries and promote responsible land use around railway infrastructure,” Magwede added.
The Ministry is urging communities, local leaders, and businesses to support the campaign and help build a culture of railway safety that safeguards both lives and infrastructure.