Mayor of Zomba city Christopher Jana has called for combined efforts in a bid to develop the city.

Jana said he is concerned that one of the contributing factors for the underdevelopment of the city is lack of cooperation between businesspersons, residents and the council.

“I have been in office for close to two months now but the way I see things in the city it is like the council and communities are not working together,” he said.

Jana admitted that the council is in a financial crisis but suggested that the situation can change for the better.

“I have been meeting with different business people and discussing with them on how best we can run the city and so far they have shown positive response and that gives me a hint that we can do better,” he said.

Jana said that it is his wish to see that by the end of the first quarter of 2018 Zomba city should be transformed.

He called on city residents and communities around Zomba city to work with the council for the betterment of the city.