Mzuzu Flea Market ready, opens July 1—CEO

The long-awaited Mzuzu Flea Market is almost completed and is expected to be opened on July 1, Mzuzu City Council chief executive officer Thomas Chirwa has said.

Chirwa told Malawi News Agency (Mana) that they have completed almost everything in terms of renovating and maintaining it, saying they are just remaining with painting.

He, however, said the city council is grappling with one vital component of creating a good access road to the market to enhance its operation.

“For a market to operate properly, people must be able to access it through movement, so we are working on the road that vehicles can use. People are able to walk freely, but we are working on a road connecting to Taifa Market that vehicles can use,” said Chirwa.

He noted that work on the access road has been slowed by the breakdown of a grader a few weeks ago.

Construction of Mzuzu Flea Market started seven years ago, but delayed due to lack of funding.

However, Press Trust rescued the city in June last year when it provided K14 million towards the completion of the market.

Commenting on this, Mzuzu Vendors president Stanley Simbeye said in an interview the opening of the flea market was long overdue.

“Our colleagues in Lilongwe, Zomba and Blantyre are plying their business in flea markets, we also want the same,” he said.

Once opened, the flea market is expected to ease congestion at the main market where vendors, especially those selling perishable agricultural produce display their goods outside the market.—Mana