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Lilongwe vendors in fresh clashes with Malawi Police

By Charles Kufa, Nyasa Times

February 6, 2012   ·   74 Comments

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Vendors and Police have clashed this Monday morning at Malangalanga in Malawi’s capital, Lilongwe over a government campaign to clean up the streets.

Heavily armed anti-riot police officers fired teargas, rubber bullets to frighten off vendors and tried to dismantle their market stalls

Merchants rapidly closed their shops and supermarkets for fear of looting, while mini-buses stopped operating leaving several people stranded.

Police turned the central trading places of old town into a no gone zone area with cops beating off people to clear the bus terminals and other areas.

At least 43 vendors were arrested following the clashes, Lilongwe police spokesman Kingsley Dandaula said.

The street clashes follows an announcement by the Lilongwe City Assembly that all street vendors must clear off the streets by Monday or risk being forcibly removed.

The vendors are resisting the order to move their business to designated flea markets allegedly because the premises are small and located in areas unsuitable for business.

Last week the vendors put up posters saying they will die before moving out of the streets.

Lilongwe City Council spokesperson Tamara Chafunya said street vending is illegal in order to promote cleanliness and reduce crime.

Malawian street sellers have to trade from designated markets, but many have invaded the streets,

Thousands of vendors hawk anything from second-hand clothes to pornography on the impoverished southern African country’s streets in a thriving informal sector.

Only about half a million of the 13 million citizens have formal jobs.

Tags: Lilongwe, Malawi Police, vendors

74 Responses to “Lilongwe vendors in fresh clashes with Malawi Police”

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1. 74

   Thomasi Says:

   February 8th, 2012 at 11:28 am

   
   

   let the vendors trade. Malawi is free market economy the characteristics of which include liberazation of the markerts. Dont blame the vendors ngatikuyendetsa dziko kwatikanika. remember it was the same HE who encouraged the vendors to go back to the streets. Now he gives a directive to remove them. Which is which abale? Which directive should the vendor follow? Like 0 Reply

2. 73

   Dalo Says:

   February 8th, 2012 at 3:49 am

   
   

   Kunena zowona mavenda pa Lilongwe munawonjeza makamaka kuba ndiye mtendele ngati simukuufuna akuphani ndithu apolisi anakwiya kwambili man. Undule sakukuikilani kumbuyo nayeso akudziwa kuti ndinu mbala. Osapita akunenako bwanji kenako ndikukwiya kuti malo achepa ndipo wina aliyense sagula pokhapokha LCA Ikumangileni malo ena akulu. Akuphanitu awa panopa anapanga chiwewe. Like 0 Reply

3. 72

   Emanuel Says:

   February 7th, 2012 at 9:00 am

   
   

   Ine inu mavenda ndimakudabwani kwambiri. mwakhala mukuzunzika ndi boma limeneli kwanthawi yaitali tsopano kodi simukudziwa kuti imeneyi ndi directive ya Bingu. Koma ndimadabwa nanunso kuti Bingu akakunamizani ndi kandalama nonsenu mumapita kondo. Chomwe muyenera kudziwa ndichakuti moyo ndiwofunika kwambiri kusiyana ndi ndalamazo. Tiyeni tithandizane kuchotsa munthu ameneyu abale. Ife zimatimvetsa chisoni mukamavutika otherwise inunso ndi amene mukutithandiza ife kugula zinthu zina pamtengo wotsika. Like 1 Reply

4. 71

   grant Says:

   February 7th, 2012 at 8:24 am

   
   

   Tidzisiyanitsa pakati pa market vendor ndi street vendor. Kuli konse kuli ma street vendor. Pongofuna aphunzitsidwe ukhondo ndi kuthandiza apolisi pa chitetezo. Angaiwale ndani GRANT PHiRI? Like 0 Reply

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