By Ruth Kumwenda

Blantyre, February 13, Mana: Blantyre City Council (BCC) has banned selling of cooked and roasted green maize with immediate effect to control theft of the commodity in the city.

According to a statement released on Wednesday and signed by Chief Executive Officer, Dennis Chinseu, the council appealed to all vendors in the city to comply with the ban.

“BCC has restricted selling of fresh, roasted, or cooked green maize until harvesting season,” reads the statement.

BCC further appealed to all vendors selling green maize to comply with the directive, warning that any vendor found selling green maize will be prosecuted.

Reacting to the development, a vendor who sells green maize at Blantyre Flea Market, Lucy Peter, told Malawi News Agency (Mana) that she is worried about the ban, as the green maize business is the only source of income for her family.

“I sell fresh maize whether in the dry or rainy season because this is the only business that I do to support my five children with basic necessities.

“I am worried with this ban. We appeal to the BCC to reconsider the decision,” said Peter.

However, Peter acknowledged the rampant theft of green maize in the fields in the district but said she purchases the green maize from the farmers.

BCC bans selling of green maize every year to combat theft of green maize in the city.