Zomba is a city in southern Malawi, in the Shire Highlands. It is the former capital city of Malawi. It was the capital of first British Central Africa a…Zomba is a city in southern Malawi, in the Shire Highlands. It is the former capital city of Malawi. It was the capital of first British Central Africa and then Nyasaland Protectorate before the establishment of Malawi in 1964. It was also the first capital of Malawi and remained so until 1974, when Lilongwe became the capital. The Parliament remained even longer, until 1994. The city is best known for its British colonial architecture and its location at the base of the dramatic Zomba Plateau. Zomba is also the home of Chancellor College of the University of Malawi.