By Manasse Nyirenda

Rumphi, May 22, Mana: New market shelters constructed with Governance to Enable Service Delivery (GESD) funds at Phwezi and Katowo in Rumphi district have doubled revenue collected from the Centre’s barely two years after they were handed over to users in December, 2022.

Figures shared by the council show that during 2021/22 financial year, before the council finalized construction works, it collected K1, 601,000 and K1, 534,000 from Mphwezi and Katowo markets respectively.

However, following completion of the market shelters, the amount increased to K2, 206,100 million for Phwezi and K3, 813, 900 million at Katowo market shelter in the 2022/23 financial year.

In the 2023/24 financial year, revenue collected from the two shelters went up to K2, 844, 900 million for Phwezi and K4, 853,000 million for Katowo market shelters.

In an interview with Malawi News Agency (Mana) on Wednesday, Director of Planning and Development for Rumphi, Frank Mfune said market shelters have improved revenue collection and that GESD projects have improved service delivery in the sectors of education, health and agriculture, among others.

Chairperson for Phwezi Market, Elizabeth Gondwe said the market shelter has provided a favourable environment for traders such as tomato sellers and others who used to trade along the M1 Road posing a risk of road accidents.

She said other businesses have also started benefiting from having a market shelter in the area.

"We have different businesses here. For example, grocery shops. After selling their produce such as tomatoes, potatoes and many other items, the traders selling at the shelters also buy from other businesses.

"They buy soap, sugar and other assorted items. This means more money for every one since traders are now located at one place and once they sell their commodities they come to buy from people like us who own grocery shops. So, this structure is a positive addition to the market,” she said.

Each of the shelters costed at least K21 million.

Through GESD, the council has also built a pharmacy at Rumphi District Hospital, a teacher development Centre at Old Salawe, a girls’ hostel at Junju Community Day Secondary School (CDSS), a youth resource Centre at Rumphi Stadium and a police unit at Livingstonia, among others.

GESD is a Malawi Government performance based grant project, facilitated by National Local Government Finance Committee and funded by the World Bank.