JB advises vendors to return to designated markets

Malawi’s President Joyce Banda on Friday reiterated her advise to vendors in all major cities to move to designated trading places if they really care about her.

Her plea at a rally she organized in Ndirande Township in Blantyre, comes barely two days after some street vendors in Lilongwe vowed to defy her initial order for them to leave the streets.

“If you really love your mother (President Banda), you will go back to the markets,” President Banda said.

But the vendors say their defiance to leave the streets is in retaliation to an alleged failure by the authorities to fulfill a pledge to give them money to boost their business capital.

They have since accused their colleagues in the flea market of orchestrating their removal after allegedly receiving K10, 000 from President Banda, when she visited the market a few days ago.

The vendors have been given up to July 20 to relocate to designated market places or face forceful eviction.