Kampepuza fatality call for action on roadside vending
Consumers Association of Malawi (CAMA) have asked the Malawi government to seriously consider banning roadside trading and instead relocated the vendors to safer places at a distance from main roads.
The call follows a tragic accident that claimed many lives and leaving scores seriously injured at Kampepuza Trading Centre along the M1 road in the Area of Traditional Champiti in ntcheu District.
CAMA Executive Director John Kapito and also People’s Party (PP) publicity Secretary Ackson Kalaile Banda described the incident as a ‘shock’.
Banda through a statement released on Saturday said the accident is a reminder to the government and all Malawians on the dangers of conducting business along the roadside.
“Yesterday’s accident is a stark reminder of how we should continue seeking alternative measures to fully relocate roadside markets away from vehicular danger. We believe this will be an instant consideration by policymakers” reads part of the statement.
PP further applauded the concurring efforts by all Malawian institutions and individuals in according the departed a fitting farewell.
The statement further called upon political stakeholders to avoid transferring political emotions to a national grievance that is the Kampepuza accident.
On his part, Kapito said the issue of stopping people from roadside vending is long overdue.
He claimed to have made several calls to have all the people removed but government has failed to react.
According to Kapito, roadside vending put lives of both the consumer or buyer and the seller at risk.
Meanwhile, Kapito said he intends to relaunch the battle of making sure that roadside vendors are removed and relocated to better and safer places.
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This Lizulu Stile marketing along M1 or alonge roads in our bustling cities, has to stop! It is not the first accident of this kind and and it is clearly a failure caused by political leadership. Especially before election campaign this street vending issue becomes rampant!
Does it really help the victims and their families when they get condoled to their big loss by APM and his new Vice?
We should also not turn a blind eye to this someone who suprisingly has always been on the accident scene. He was there in chiradzulu when a truck of maize killed women and a priest. He was also there yesterday at kampepuza. Is it just a coincidence? Iweyo
Very sad moment. Mini bus drivers should be seriously cautioned for hazardous packing along the roads as well as abrupt stopping. In some cases they deliberately block flow of traffic looking for customers…..thus selfishness at its best. Traffic police mwaonjeza kusekerera izi…it aggravates ngozi
Totally agree with you Njonange. The mini bus guys with their parking are a nuisance. They close the roads and park on both sides of the road. I know Kampepuza, and every time I pass there, these miscreants park wrongly. Please ban all these road side markets.