The town lies at the international border with Malawi, adjacent to the Malawian city of Mchinji.

Mwami is located approximately 27 kilometres (17 mi) southeast of the district and provincial capital at Chipata.

[6] Due to the proximity of Mwami, Zambia with Lilongwe, Malawi, most of the imports and exports handled at this border post are either destined or coming from the Mozambican port of Nacala, on the Indian Ocean coast.

The study determined that it would cost £300,735 to establish a public piped water and sewerage system in Mwami, Zambia.

[7] The Malawi Revenue Authority indicated in May 2020, that the one-stop-border post (OSP), under construction at Mchinji would be completed by December 2020.