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Abstract:
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The Glossary of Planning Concepts in Malawi is about urban / physical planning but also includes concepts in related fields of surveying, architecture, engineering, valuation, estate management, environment and geography in general. One cannot adequately discuss physical planning without reference to these fields not just because of their close relationship but also because planning is a young profession having emerged only in the 1900s. Prior to that surveyors, architects and engineers did ‘town’ planning and indeed at one-point health officers in developing countries like Malawi took centre stage in town planning to promote public health, rather than to also promote, as we now do, equity, environment, order and beauty. These concepts are explained to reduce the conceptual confusions both in the planning field but also other fields where attempts are made to use these concepts.
Some concepts in this Glossary may not be applicable in Malawi. However, since our country is donor, concepts widely used in major donor countries are included to avoid conceptual confusions and ensure a uniform definition when dealing with those countries. |