Karonga market shut down: Council force traders to pay revenue

Council officials in Karonga the northern part of Malawi on Wednesday shut down the district main market forcing the vendors to pay revenue.

The development follows Tuesday’s demonstration in which the district vendors petitioned the council that they will not pay market revenue till the office of the District Commissioner resolve the problems that the market is facing.

Among other things the vendors demanded that the district council should adhere to the agreement they signed that the 25 percent of the revenue collected should be used in the managing the market.

The decision angered the council officials who hired the law enforcers to guard the market the morning of Wednesday forcing the market users to pay tax if they want to trade.

The District Administration Officer Games Tembo said: “We called them to have a meeting but it seems they did not want to cooperate to that so have decided to close the market until they pay revenue.”

Adding that “those who will agree to pay the fee. Will be allowed to enter to do their trading.”

Godwin Ghambi the district main market chairperson said they will not allow to be intimidated.

“We will not agree and also we will not be intimidated. They need to hear our concerns as well,” said Ghambi.

Adding that: “if our belongings will be damaged, we will take them to court so that they compensate us for the damages.”