Lilongwe City Council officials suspended over market fire

Three senior officials at Lilongwe City Council have been sent on suspension in relation to fire that gutted down Lilongwe Main Market; barely weeks after government warned that heads will roll at the council.

Nankhumwa warns ineffecient city council
Nankhumwa  had warned  against  ineffecient city council

Last month a fierce fire razed the market to ashes, leaving hundreds of vendors destitute.

And on Monday, Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development sent on suspension Director of Planning, Hillary Kamela, Director of Administration, Dyton Milanzi and Fire department Director, a Mr. Chapeyama.

Local Government and Rural Development Minister, Kondwani Nankhumwa confirmed in an interview the three will be on suspension pending conclusion of investigations into the fire incident.

“They were handed their letters yesterday (Tuesday ). More details will be divulged once the investigations are over, but be informed that government is taking this is seriously and we will ensure that market gets the best attention it deserves,” said Nankhumwa.

Fire gutted the main market, burning billions of money in merchandise in the early morning of September 23rd.

The council’s fire fighters have been finger-pointed for failing to swiftly come to the rescue of the vendors as they rushed to the scene of the incident hours late when all merchandizes and vending stalls were reduced to nothing but ashes.

The cause of the fire is yet to be established. According to eye-witnesses, it started from the northern part of the market while others claim it emanated from one of the electronic repair shops within the market.

The market comprises, amongst other sections, fish, hardware which had electronic equipment, motor vehicle spare parts and tinsmith, clothes where also tailors were operating from, the tight stalls’ popularly known as Mpanipani which housed merchants selling merchandise mostly from outside the country such as South Africa, Tanzania and Zambia.

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Mtimbasonjo
Mtimbasonjo
7 years ago

The LCC has a weak management despite having qualified people. The weaknesses are partly due to political influence from the ruling party. Can someone tell us where the Collora is that the Deputy Mayor crashed and took it for repairs to unknown garages without the Knowledge of the LCC CEO? The concerned maayor gets fuel monthly for the vehilce that is not on the road. The CEO can not provide for fuel for fire engines but can afford giving money to the deputy moyor a vehicle that is in not on break down . If the CEO has no regard… Read more »

Abeat Minthu
7 years ago

They Dont fire Bosses but junior. As soon They start investgating the Bosse look into a junior and he firas that person to protect himself. This is happening in Cashgate cases. They fire someone who has stolen 300 000 and leave a Bosse with 300 million. Poor man is a sucrify to save the bosse. There is evil in Malawi. Call themselves Christians.

Chikondi
Chikondi
7 years ago

The problem at city council is Kamera who is pro Mcp and anti Dpp.

Paul
Paul
7 years ago

Dpp darkness pathetic party totally clueless party Escom will be the downfall dpp

Robert
Robert
7 years ago

Please investigate at central medical stores. Under buy Malawi campaign certain manufacturers are overcharging by 500 percent and they are not even manufacturing the products In Malawi Massive katangale kumeneko

Achimidzimidzi
Achimidzimidzi
7 years ago

Do not forget to fire all ESCOM and Water Board employees please. We are not getting the services though we buy prepaid electricity. They think we are NGOz.

After you will compensate them for illegal dismissals since its not their fault….

Entretre
Entretre
7 years ago

Please fire the incompetent people in this order for they caused the fire and made the fire department incompetent: Pitala, Nankhumwa, LCC CEO, Director of Finance, Director of Administration, Director of Engineering – apo bii! this is just a smoke-screen. Inu mumati fuel azigulira ndalama za amawo?

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