Lilongwe vendors await evacuation after talks with the City Council

The newly elected Lilongwe Mayor, Willy Chapondera has said vendors will evacuate the streets of the city after holding talks on 24th July, 2014 with the Vendors Association.

Chapondera has assured the residents of Lilongwe that the council is going to sort out some of the problems to improve the livelihood of the people.

“Our priorities are many but as of now we would want to focus on issues of health, road network and food selling which frighten the lives of many people,” said Chapondera.

In a telephonic interview with Malawi News Agency (Mana) Friday, Chapondera said the council has plans to construct a big market for vendors which will reduce problems of congestion at Tsoka Flea Market.

“We are aware that the market is small which cannot cater for vendors. However, we cannot just chase them out of the streets because they are making a living out there, said Chapondera.

The council is expected to formulate committees on various departments in line with the developmental agenda of rehabilitating Lilongwe City.

“Each section will have its own committee to monitor their area, and we are going to develop by laws and revise those that were enacted years ago,” he said.

He added that the council will also meet the Vendors Association to discuss their problems since many vendors moved away from the Tsoka Flea Market which is designated for business. “We will discuss the way forward of the vendors allocation which is important and if this will fail, we will improvise other means to remove them from the streets,” said Chapondera.

Furthermore, Chapondera revealed that the council is going to look into the finance management issues to carry on the plans of changing the face of capital city.

Meanwhile people are living in fear in some parts of the city because of armed robbery.

However, the Mayor has assured the residents of Lilongwe not panic since the formulation of the council will promote security in the city.