Minister tips market vendors on insurance
Vendors in the country have been tipped to consider insuring their property to prevent inconveniences that arise from incidents like fire in market places.
Minister of Local Government and Rural Development Kondwani Nankhumwa made the remarks on Monday after inspecting Mulanje Bus Depot Market which was gutted by fire about two weeks ago.
The Minister said he was sad to see the extent of the damage caused by the fire adding that it has affected livelihoods of the vendors who heavily rely on the businesses for survival.
He assured those affected that his ministry will hold talks with financial brokers to have willing vendors insure their property so that they are able to move on with life despite misfortunes.
“My visit today was solemnly to get a clear picture of what happened and also see the extent of the damage caused and it is really sad to see that 15 shops were lost. When I go back I will report back to the president to map the way forward,” he said.
On compensation, Nankhumwa said that government does not have a special budget for people affected by such incidents but was quick to say that they will have talks with financial lending institutions in the country like MEDEF to consider giving out loans to the affected people to reinvest in their businesses.
He revealed plans to have firefighting equipment in market places to reduce damages being caused by the rampant fires.
One of the affected vendors, Wilson Nkhoma asked for support from government through loans to restart their businesses.
He said property worth millions was lost during the fire which gutted 15 shops affecting 27 vendors in the process.
District Commissioner (DC) for Mulanje, Fred Movete said the fire has not only affected the vendors but the council as well as they are now not collecting enough revenue as they used to from the market.
He said property worth over K58 million is said to have been lost during the fire but said findings to establish the cause of the fire are still underway.
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