Cama beamons filling stations health standards
The Consumers Association of Malawi (CAMA) has raised an alarm over the failure by many filling stations in the country to adhere to health and safety standards.
Most filling stations have become or turned into pick up and drop off places for passengers and some have been turned as vending places of various goods and services that includes roasting of meat around such sensitive places.
Some filling stations have also been turned into illegal parking areas for Minibuses and taxis.
CAMA’s Executive Director, John Kapito told Nyasa Times filling stations are public safety protected areas due to the nature of products that they sale.
“Many Filling Stations throughout the country have been invaded by all sorts of elements of insecurities. These malpractices at Filling station are against the Health, Safety and Road Acts that prohibit the use of Filling Stations as pick up and drop off places for passengers, illegal parking areas and vending,” said Kapito.
The Filling Stations are now under pressure by such illegal malpractices which if not controlled can cause a lot of damage to both public health and property throughout the country.
Kapito has since requested filling stations’ owners as well owners of minibuses and taxis and all consumers including vendors to desist or stop conducting any such businesses or parking any vehicle or consumers crowding up filling stations as pick up and drop off areas.
“It is also our wish that various Regulatory Bodies such as the Malawi Energy Regulatory Authority (MERA), Traffic Police, Department of Roads and Transport Services (DRTSS) to immediately monitor and enforce Laws under their mandates to ensure that these malpractices at Filling Stations are eliminated and that those not complying are severely punished under the Law and licenses revoked.”
He said it is every citizen’s responsibility to ensure and maintain public safety at all filling stations in order to avoid disasters that will negatively hurt innocent Malawians.
true, filling station ia a very sensitive area. its need protection.
Very true. I know of a filling station in Area 23 Lilongwe where a bottle store is being operated in one of the shops at the place. CAMA please do something before something bad happens.