By Agatha Kadzinje

Blantyre October 14, Mana; Blantyre City Council (BCC) has called upon residents and stakeholders to join hands in combating street vending in the city.

BCC Chief Executive Officer, Dennis Chinsewu, told Malawi News Agency (MANA) on Monday that there is excessive street vending in the city such that the Council consistently enforces relocation of street vendors to market places.

He, therefore, asked residents to desist buying from street vendors if the city is to be kept clean.

“In addition, people that are selling items along the roads do not have passion for their city because most of them end up littering as well as causing congestion,” he said.

Chimseu said there is enough space to accommodate every seller at Blantyre Market and it is unfortunate that street vendors choose to sell along the streets.

He disclosed that the Council is losing a lot of revenue because of Peak Street vending in the city.

Blantyre Central Market Chairperson, Black Binya, told MANA in a separate interview that the rise in street vending is killing business in the main market.

Binya added that vending outside the market is “unfair trading technique” that the street vendors employ to capture buyers before they go into the main market.

He believes that there is enough space in the market to accommodate every seller including those doing business in the street.

“It is surprising that some people choose to sell outside the market. The Council should use its powers to bring the vendors back to the market,” he said.

Binya feared that more vendors will opt to sell along the streets if the Council fail to move them from streets.

One of the street sellers, Elitaniya Ntawali from Mbayani Township said she opted to sell along the streets to capture buyers before they chose to go to the main market.

Ntawali explained her reluctance to relocate to the market, believing she sells more along the streets that in the main market.

“Most people don't go to the main market. l experienced this when I had a stall there. I, therefore, decided to move my business to the roadside to increase sales,” she explained.