Update: Tear Gas Continues at Wakawaka Market as Traders Count Losses After Demolitions

Police in Lilongwe continued firing tear gas as calm slowly returned to Wakawaka Market following violent protests triggered by the demolition of vendors’ shops.

Traders at the market say they plan to take legal action against the Lilongwe City Council, demanding compensation for goods that were destroyed or stolen during the chaos.

Vice chairperson of the market committee Martias Jiya said although the court had previously ruled in favour of closing the market, vendors expected the council to formally communicate the exact date for the closure.

“Many goods have been damaged and a lot of people have suffered huge financial losses,” said Jiya.

One of the vendors, Aron, who sells potatoes, claimed he lost merchandise worth about K5 million during the unrest.

According to Aron, he had delivered several bags of potatoes to the market on Wednesday, but the goods were later scattered and some stolen amid the confusion.

The unrest follows an overnight demolition exercise by the council, which sparked running battles between vendors and police officers at the market.