By Tower Kumwenda

Mzuzu, September 24, Mana: Mzuzu City Council (MCC) has accepted that efforts to curb illegal vending in the city have failed.

In an interview with the Malawi News Agency (Mana), Tuesday, spokesperson for MCC, McDonald Gondwe said the council has been unsuccessful in all its attempts to relocate the vendors.

He said it remains a challenge to the council to relocate vendors who ply their businesses in illegal spots in the city, as many of them return to the same undesignated places despite the council’s numerous enforcement mechanisms to curb the malpractice.

“We are now pondering on coming up with a permanent and lasting solution through engaging various stakeholders including the vendors themselves for joint planning to come up with solutions together,” said Gondwe

He bemoaned the fact that the council had of late registered increased street vending practices despite what he described as best efforts from the council to ensure sanity in operations to maintain the city clean.

Said Gondwe: “We have MCC Central Market, Zigwagwa Market and Ndata Flea Market which became operational in 2014 but despite these available spaces, some vendors prefer plying their businesses in unapproved areas.”  

One of the vendors who sell groceries outside the Main Market, Adam Ascot, said that he makes more sales as he operates a place of his choice which he said is convenient for customers.

“We would want to be placed at a better market that would help us boost our business as we are not satisfied with where the council would like to relocate us.

Here, I sell one carton of Azam tablet soap a day, while it would take three to four days to sell the same at Ndata Flea Market,” said Ascot

Another vendor, Jane Soko who sells potato vendor at undesignated place, urged the council to expanded the main market for increased space to accommodate more vendors, rather than relocating them to other markets which she said have unfavorable business environment.

Vice Secretary for MCC Central Market, Master Katete urged the council to find a permanent win-win solution to the problem considering that every have find ways of surviving the city either through business or employment.

 “The council has to conduct research to find out why people opt to operate outside the market and solution should be hatched and implemented for the benefit of us all,”

said Katete

A visit to Chiyaleyale Market which is undesignated trading place just outside central market, it indicated that it was evident that the vendors are looking for a practical solution.