By Blackson Mkupatira

Chiradzulu, July 9, Mana: Director of Finance for Chiradzulu District Council, Henderson M'mangeni, says construction of a K34 million market shed at Yasin Market under the World Bank Funded Governance to Enable Service Delivery (GESD) project will enhance the council’s revenue collection.

In an interview with Malawi News Agency (MANA) on Monday, M'mangeni said many markets in the district have limited infrastructure which affects the council's ability to collect market fees due to market vendors’ resistance.

“We have been failing to meet our local revenue targets because vendors boycotted paying market fees long time ago due to poor market infrastructure.

“Since the construction of the shed was one of the conditions for them to start paying, I am optimistic that this will increase the revenue the council is currently generating,” he said.

M'mangeni disclosed that the Council plans to construct more market sheds and sanitation facilities, such as toilets and waste management structures, as one way of providing better services to the people of Chiradzulu and promoting hygiene.

“Let me also urge vendors to cooperate with the Council in paying market fees. This revenue is crucial for providing various community services, including the supervision and monitoring of developmental projects, expenses for chiefs and council meetings," he said.

Secretary for Yasin Market Committee, Paul Yohane, thanked the Council for constructing the new market facility, saying it is a facelift to the market and timely as the shed has been constructed before the rainy season.

“People were selling under an old market shed which is in a dilapidated state and posed a threat to lives of those that ply their trade there. It could collapse at any moment," Yohane said.

One of the dry fish vendors at Yasin Market, Easter Manda, appealed to the Council to speed up the handover process so that they could start trading under the new facility before rainy season begins.

“In the rainy season, we lose money as business is suspended and some of our goods are damaged by leaking roof of the old shed. That is why we have been asking for construction of the new shed," said Manda, adding that she is now be willing to pay market fees.