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Government, through the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, has given MK13.5 million to 437 vendors as consolation for losing their goods to fire that gutted Vigwagwa Market at Mzimba Boma in October this year.
The fire that razed down Mzimba Vigwagwa Market damaged goods worth MK250 million. The incident occurred barely 24 hours after a similar incident in Mzuzu where part of the city’s main market and some commercial buildings were gutted down.
Speaking during his visit to the district Tuesday, Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Kondwani Nankhumwa, expressed government’s sadness over the numerous fire tragedies that have hit the country and Mzimba in particular in the recent past.
Nankhumwa said it was for this reason that the State President decided to console affected vendors in the district. He said the gesture was also to make them feel government was equally shocked with the fire incident.
“Government saw the importance to console the vendors today because we understand they are undergoing a difficult moment, we feel this can help in some way,” said the minister.
Nankhumwa informed the vendors and district government officials that government was currently in the process of purchasing fire engines to ensure that fire incidents are dealt with timely.
The minister further advised vendors to be constructing fire-proof structures to curb fire incidents in the country. He said such structures would also attract investors in the name of insurance brokers to come and invest for the sake of the vendor.
Speaking on behalf of the vendors, Chairperson for Vigwagwa Market at Mzimba Boma, Albert Chisiza, thanked government for the gesture, saying the fire incident left the vendors with nothing to do.
He promised to share the consolation money fairly among the vendors who were affected by the fire.
Authorities are still investigating to find out what caused various fire incidents that damaged goods worth billions across the country’s markets in the recent past including that in Mzimba District.
