Lilongwe Curio vendors excited with new shelters

Curio vendors and artisans at the Lilongwe Post Office Complex have expressed gratitude for the new shelters that the Lilongwe City Council (LCC) is erecting in conjunction with the Malawi Gaming Board.

The first phase of the shelter construction in progress at Lilongwe Post Office Complex Pic. By Kondwani Magombo
They will now have shelters – Pic. By Kondwani Magombo (Mana)

Chairperson for the vendors and artisans at the complex, Benson Phiri, described 2017 as the year of breakthrough considering how long they had waited for the shelters to be erected.

He said it had always been very difficult and embarrassing to talk the customers into buying the artifacts when it’s raining as there were no shelters.

“For over thirty-five years we have been selling our merchandise in the open, vulnerable to rain and sun but we will now have shelters and this will also promote tourism in the country as our customers will comfortably be taking their time to appreciate our artifacts,” explained Phiri.

According to LCC spokesperson, Tamara Chafunya, the shelters will cover the entire area where the vendors ply their business at the complex and the project will cost K185m.

Chafunya said the first phase of the project had been funded by the Malawi Gaming Board to the tune of K40m and that the Council was looking for other players to partner with to complete the project.

“We are doing this to complement the reforms that government introduced in various ministries, departments and agencies and we want to turn this complex into a one-stop centre where our curio vendors can do business comfortably,” explained Chafunya.

She said other than boosting tourism in the country the Council would also be raising revenue from the daily market fees collected from the vendors and artisans.

The Lilongwe Post Office Complex is one of the biggest curio centres in Malawi and it is visited by a lot of tourists and visiting foreigners every day.

Artifacts at the complex include wooden game trophies, various sculptures, bags and wrap-around made from local cloths, among other things.

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The Patriot
The Patriot
7 years ago

This is a good initiative thinking outside the box, but the quality of the structure is not desirable at all. Its the capital city of Malawi, those structures have no place in a capital city at all. look at the beautiful NICO center Just opposite which is almost 15 years old it looks alright and you build something that ugly just opposite. You ought to be ashamed of yourselves, Manyazi mulibe? All that rubish cant cost 185 mill something is wrong. I bet they cost less than a million. Malawians lets love our country paliponse kubako bansi we will die… Read more »

ungwelu
ungwelu
7 years ago

Is this a car port or curio shed?

Chimanga
Chimanga
7 years ago

malata ndi zitsulo izi plus labour = K185 million? Search me

renegade
renegade
7 years ago
Reply to  Chimanga

Another gate, invistigate

Zinenani Zoona
Zinenani Zoona
7 years ago

Let’s commend the initiative. I only hope that the vendors are ready to pay market rates and rental on the spaces.

chodziwadziwa
chodziwadziwa
7 years ago

Poor workmanship and you say the project costs MK185 million…my foot where are all those going to? Even a builder in my village can construct that at K50,000 . The quality of the roof, floor and everything is poor. LL city council needs to be evaluated on this…I bet someone must have stolen the money

Mlomwe
7 years ago

Chidzayaluka ndimphepo ichi. Please redesign it.

Otherwise, good initiative.

Nadzimbiri
Nadzimbiri
7 years ago

Poor workmanship, design and quality, this is not even worth calling a shelter, when the sun is at 3 or 4pm the merchandise and sellers will still be scorched to the sun not to mention mvula ya mpepho… katundu azinyowabe. This structure is in the heart of LL City, with that kind of finishing leaves a lot to be desired kuti kodi munthu waku city amapanga plani ya chimenechi amaganiza chani? ku sukulu ya ma plani anapitako. he should have as well worked on the souroundings of this structure please.

citizenX
citizenX
7 years ago

Good initiative, but I am disappointed on the design and quality of the structure. This is the area where cashgate happens by lowering the design quality. it is not a durable structure chigwa ponpano.

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